The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies will add one other chapter to what has develop into a heated rivalry on Tuesday, because the groups are set for one more postseason conflict within the first spherical of the NBA play-in match.
Memphis and Golden State beforehand met within the 2022 Western Convention semifinals. The Warriors edged out the Grizzlies in six video games, however the sequence didn’t go with out controversy. With the sequence tied 1-1 and the Grizzlies trailing late within the fourth, Jordan Poole infamously grabbed at Ja Morant’s knee throughout a scrum for a unfastened ball. Morant was subsequently dominated out for the sequence with a bone bruise, which led to the considerably iconic “broke the code” tweet.
The 2 groups performed in a heated contest just some weeks in the past on April 2, through which Steph Curry and Morant had a viral second trash-talking one another after Morant pointed his finger weapons on the Warriors’ bench. The Warriors received that assembly, 134-115, and received the season sequence 3-1.
How Golden State Bought Right here
Not even two weeks in the past, the Warriors (48-34) appeared like bonafide contenders within the Western Convention after beating Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, 118-104, for his or her fifth consecutive win.
Since that recreation on April 4, the Warriors have misplaced three of their final 5 video games to fall from a safe No. 5 seed within the West to the play-in sure No. 7 seed. Golden State’s skid started with a heated 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on April 10. Curry was restricted to simply 3 factors in 33 minutes of motion, taking pictures 1-of-10 from the sector total and 1-of-8 from 3-point vary within the loss. The Warriors additionally suffered a far-from-encouraging loss to the 34-win San Antonio Spurs throughout this stretch.
With the No. 6 seed and a free go to the playoffs on the road in opposition to the Clippers on Sunday, Curry mentioned he was anticipating the Warriors to deal with it like a Sport 7. They did. The issue was, the Warriors nonetheless misplaced regardless of a 36-point efficiency and a late flurry from Curry. Jimmy Butler additionally appeared to tweak his ankle within the closing minutes of additional time, although the Warriors reported no accidents forward of Tuesday’s play-in recreation.
How Memphis Bought Right here
As late as February 22, the Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) have been the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention. On March 25, Memphis held the No. 4 seed within the West with a 44-28 document, one recreation forward of the Los Angeles Lakers.
On March 28, the fifth-place and sliding Grizzlies made arguably the second-most stunning transfer of the NBA season after they fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with a 44-29 document and 9 video games remaining. The Grizzlies then misplaced 5 of 9 to finish the common season and tumbled to an eighth-place end within the Western Convention.
Morant paced the Grizzlies offense through the common season with a team-high 23.2 factors and seven.3 assists per recreation. Jaren Jackson Jr. trailed simply behind Morant at 22.2 factors per recreation whereas additionally serving because the staff’s defensive anchor. Rookie Zach Edey additionally made a rapid impression for the Grizzlies this season and led the staff with 8.3 rebounds per recreation.
Key To The Sport
Curry. However other than the apparent, rebounding. The Grizzlies are the second-best rebounding staff within the NBA and may be capable of management the glass and the within submit in opposition to an undersized Warriors staff. That could possibly be particularly damning for the Warriors within the occasion Curry and firm go chilly from the sector.
