Oklahoma City Thunder comes of age by dispatching tough Grizzlies

The Oklahoma City Thunder led by young stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook moved from being an up-and-coming team to legitimate NBA title contenders by trouncing the equally-promising Memphis Grizzlies 105-90 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.

The win earned for the Oklahoma City Thunder the right to face the Dallas Mavericks for the conference finals with Game 1 on Tuesday. Durant pumped a series-high 39 points and Westbrook registered his first-ever triple double in the playoffs with 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds to finally get rid of the pesky and tough Grizzlies.

Durant was coming off a dismal outing in the previous game but showed on Sunday why he is widely believed as the next great superstar of the NBA. He was missing shots early but found his groove in the second and third quarter. His performance was punctuated by two dunks in the final quarter that electrified the hometown crowd.

Playing efficiently and under control for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook answered critics by delivering what was just the fifth triple double in a Game 7 in league history.

Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies in this series with a 28.3 point and 14.7 rebound average but could only muster 17 points and 10 rebounds during the do-or-die game. Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies with 18 points while O.J. Mayo added 14 points.

It was the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook show on Sunday night in Oklahoma. And from the look of things the great show is just beginning for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I think that age is kind of out of the window now. Usually, you hear young franchise. Now, we've grown up together and we're getting better," said Westbrook.

Both only 22 years old, the Oklahoma City Thunder dynamic duo is among the next-in-line to ascend to the throne of league superstars after the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are past their prime.