MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Klay Thompson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left, and the Golden State Warriors overcame Draymond Inexperienced’s first-half ejection to edge the Memphis Grizzlies 117-116 on Sunday in Recreation 1 of the Western Convention semifinals.
Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 31 factors off the bench, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers. Stephen Curry added 24 factors, Andrew Wiggins had 17 and Thompson completed with 15.
Inexperienced was ejected for a flagrant foul simply earlier than halftime.
Thompson missed each free throws with 6.7 seconds left, then Memphis received a soar ball earlier than taking a timeout with 3.6 seconds remaining to arrange the ultimate play. The Grizzlies ran a play much like Ja Morant’s last-second layup to win Recreation 5 within the first spherical, however Morant’s layup went over the rim.
Morant completed with 34 factors and 10 assists, and Jaren Jackson Jr. matched his season excessive with six 3-pointers and had a career-high 33 factors as Memphis’ first pair of teammates to attain at the very least 30 in a playoff recreation. D’Anthony Melton added 14, and Brandon Clarke had 12.
The Grizzlies completed their first-round sequence by getting back from double-digit deficits of their remaining three wins — the primary staff in NBA historical past to try this greater than as soon as in a postseason, not to mention a sequence. They got here in main the NBA within the fourth with a mean of 33 factors and outscoring opponents by 10.3 factors a recreation.
This time, they may solely match the Warriors level for level within the interval.
Memphis edged the Warriors out for the No. 2 seed within the West by tying the franchise document with 56 wins, and the Grizzlies additionally took three of 4 of their season sequence. Thompson solely performed one and Inexperienced two of these video games and Curry three.
This was a rematch with position reversals from the 2015 semifinal the Warriors received because the youthful staff with Memphis led by skilled vets. This additionally was simply the primary time the
Warriors began a convention semifinal on the street and third playoff sequence Golden State didn’t begin at house with Steve Kerr as coach.
The Warriors combined up their lineup, benching Poole in favor of Gary Payton II to give attention to defending Morant, the Grizzlies’ All-Star level guard and the NBA’s Most Improved Participant this season.
Morant opened the sport with back-to-back 3s, half of what he made the complete first spherical towards Minnesota, and he had 14 to assist the Grizzlies lead 32-24 after the primary quarter. It marked the primary time Memphis held an opponent to fewer than 30 factors this postseason.
The Grizzlies led by as a lot as 13 within the second quarter and had been up 61-55 at halftime.
With 1:18 left within the second, Inexperienced fouled Brandon Clarke. Officers reviewed the play for a number of minutes with followers chanting “Throw him out!” Inexperienced completed with six factors, 4 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Curry was held to eight factors within the first half, none within the second and picked up his third foul seconds after Inexperienced’s ejection.
Curry was held to eight factors within the first half, none within the second. However he scored 13 and Poole had 10 within the third because the Warriors outscored Memphis 36-29 and led 91-90 after the third. Golden State was 14 of 21 taking pictures within the third, together with 5 of seven outdoors the arc.
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