When Derek Fisher checked in during the second quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 5 tilt against the Memphis Grizzlies, he etched his name in the NBA record book.

D-Fish passed former teammate Robert Horry by taking the floor for a league record 245th time in the playoffs.

Earlier in the week, the Little Rock, Ark. native told The Oklahoman that his 18-year run in the league is beyond anything he could’ve imagined.

“Couldn’t have imagined this,” Derek said. “Couldn’t have dreamt it, couldn’t have paid Joel Silver to write it or direct it or produce it. Not in my wildest dreams.”

After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, D-Fish made the playoffs the first eight years of his career, claiming three NBA titles in that span.

Derek took time to reflect on how that start for his career laid the foundation for the player that he has become.

“Getting drafted by the Lakers and being drafted into a situation where success was priority,” Fisher said. “Winning, competing for a championship, that mentality that you had to have from Day 1. It taught me from early on, you can’t be a selfish type of player, because you’re fitting into something larger than yourself.”

A brief stint with the Utah Jazz brought another postseason appearance in 2007, before he went back to L.A. for a string of four more playoff berths and two NBA championships. Including three recent playoff appearances with the OKC Thunder, D-Fish has made the playoffs 16 times with three different teams.

Once he entered playoff game No. 245, No. 6 wasted no time making a contribution, dishing to guard Reggie Jackson on a three. He then knocked down a bucket of his own, side-stepping Memphis’ Mike Miller to bury a 20-foot jumper. Fish then splashed a catch-and-shoot triple from the right wing.

Unfortunately, D-Fish’s big night was spoiled by the overall outcome. The Thunder lost 100-99 in overtime, falling behind 3-2 for the series. The two teams have now gone to extra time in four straight contests.

Memphis came out strong in the first half, shot 60 percent in the first quarter and held OKC to 24 percent shooting in the second. That start sent the Thunder into the break trailing by 12, 45-33, forcing them to play catch-up for the remainder of the contest.

The Grizz stretched that lead to 20 late in the third quarter, but OKC managed to decipher their staunch defense, mounting a 13-0 run in the third. Russell Westbrook then capped the frame with a triple to cut the deficit to six and set up a thrilling finale.

Midway through the fourth, Kevin Durant connected from deep to give the Thunder their first — and what turned out to be their only — lead of the game. The two teams went back-and-forth through the rest of the final frame, and Westbrook came through with a clutch steal and transition dunk with four seconds left to tie the game at 90.

It appeared as though Memphis’ Zach Randolph hit a game-winning layup on the other end, but the ball left his hands just after the final buzzer sounded, sending the game to OT.

At the end of the extra period, with OKC trailing by one with 2.9 seconds on the clock, Durant launched a high-arcing three off an inbound play, but it fell just off the mark. However, Serge Ibaka was there for the game-winning putback.

Unfortunately—and just like Randolph’s bucket at the end of regulation—Ibaka’s shot left his hand just a split second late, and the Thunder fell 100-99.

NEXT UP

Now down 3-2, Derek and the Thunder have a tough road ahead.

They’ll head to Memphis Thursday for the pivotal Game 6. If they win on the road, they’ll head back home Saturday for Game 7.

“We have to turn this page as quick as we can and put all of our energy, intensity and focus into the next game,” said OKC head coach Scott Brooks. “We still have an opportunity to go there and continue to fight. We won the last game we played there, so we know we can win on their court.  Guys are going to keep fighting. Couple breaks here or there could have changed the game.”

Thursday’s contest is set for an 8 p.m. EDT tip from Memphis’ FedEx Forum.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Fisher to become NBA leader in postseason games played (The Oklahoman, April 28, 2014)
• Fisher breaks record for most playoff game appearances (Bleacher Report, April 29, 2014)
• Fisher sets new career playoff games record (UALRTrojans.com, April 30, 2014)
• Ten Before Tip: NBA news from Tuesday (NBA.com, April 29, 2014)