NBA Playoffs: The Grizzlies shock the Warriors to take the eighth seed
San Francisco, California - The Golden State Warriors needed just one more win to get into the NBA playoffs, but so did the Memphis Grizzlies – and one team simply wanted it more.
The Grizzlies earned a hard-fought 117-112 win in overtime, snatching the eighth playoff spot in the West.
The Warriors came into the final play-in tournament game with an even bigger chip on their shoulder than usual. After letting their first chance to make the playoffs slip away in LA, they had their backs up against the wall facing a hungry Grizzlies team.
Steph Curry (33) had his usual high-scoring game with 39 points, but it just wasn't enough for Golden State. Memphis was in control nearly the entire game, leaving the fans in the stands without much to cheer about. Whenever the Warriors led, it was by no more than two points, and they only held that slender advantage twice in the first quarter and once more in overtime.
This game was definitely a reversal of the last match-up between these two teams. Less than a week ago, the Warriors beat the Grizzlies, in effect setting up each team's standings in the conference heading into the play-in phase.
The difference was Ja Morant, who improved hugely from the 16 points last time around to the 35 on Friday night.
The Warriors still had a little fight in them during the second half.
The change of approach for the Grizzlies paid off, with several double-digit leads throughout the first and second quarters, as well as a 13-point lead at halftime.
Memphis grew their lead to as high as 15 points in the third quarter, and even though the Warriors cut it down to five in the fourth quarter, the mountain was too steep to climb. It got bigger with every mistake they made with the ball. And there were plenty: Golden State committed 21 turnovers in the game.
Still, the Warriors made one last admirable push in the closing minutes to tie the game and force overtime. But their gas eventually ran out, as the Grizzlies got the shots they needed, including two threes from Grayson Allen, as part of his 12 total points, to seal the deal.
Morant finished with 35 points, six boards, and six assists, while Dillion brooks also had 14 points for Memphis.
For the Warriors, Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Poole chipped in with 19 points.
The Grizzlies now stay on the road, heading out to Utah to take on the Jazz in game one of their first-round series on Sunday.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire