Morant, Grizzlies beat Warriors in OT, advance to face Jazz
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies came with aggression, determination and absolutely no fear, going at Golden State every which way - crashing the offensive glass to create extra chances, jumping in the passing lanes to force turnovers and getting far more production from the bench.
The Grizzlies had an answer for every Stephen Curry flurry, and now they're going back to the playoffs.
Morant made consecutive jumpers in the final 48 seconds of overtime and scored 35 points, and Memphis advanced to the postseason for the first time in four years by holding off Curry and the Warriors 117-112 on Friday night in a thrilling play-in game.
''What a moment in time for the Grizzlies. Took a lot out of us all season long. It's just a proud moment,'' coach Taylor Jenkins said. ''We gave it all we had to move on and I know we have more left. What a heck of a game. It took overtime against a heck of a ballclub. There were so many things that don't show up in the boxscore. We have to keep building, keep fighting.''
Memphis earned the No. 8 seed and advanced to face top-seeded Utah in the first round of the best-of-seven Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 is Sunday in Salt Lake City.
Jordan Poole hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:50 left in OT for Golden State only to see Xavier Tillman answer with a baseline 3 moments later. Poole lost the ball out of bounds leading to Morant's basket with 4 seconds left, then Poole made another improbable 3 with 2 seconds remaining.
Morant shined on the big stage - now it gets bigger for him, Dillon Brooks and the Grizz.
''I know it's a big accomplishment for all of us, but me and Dillon know the job's not finished,'' Morant said. ''We're not trying to be done making it to the playoffs. We have to lock back in to playing Utah who has the best record in the league.''
Morant also contributed six rebounds, six assists and four steals. He shot 14 for 29 with five 3-pointers as Memphis more than doubled its total from deep this time against Golden State to win on the Warriors' home floor just five days after losing 113-101 in the regular-season finale.
Curry, who became scoring champion against the Grizzlies on Sunday, finished with 39 points and six 3-pointers while dazzling in front of an animated, roaring crowd of 7,505 in the biggest game yet at second-year Chase Center. He committed seven of his team's 21 turnovers, while Draymond Green had six miscues but also a triple-double with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
''There were some pivotal turnovers that bit us a little bit, but I think the intentions were right and we were trying to make the right play, and sometimes it doesn't go your way,'' Curry said. ''That is something to nitpick for sure. It's a part of the game you have to have solid possessions and get solid shots. I loved our aggressiveness and our intentions. ... It didn't go our way.''
These teams needed every tick of the clock in the extra period to decide who moved on and who headed home for the offseason following a furious final minute-plus of regulation - and the NBA had to love it.
Andrew Wiggins tied it on a layup with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a pretty pass from new star Poole and Memphis committed a shot-clock violation on the other end.
Kyle Anderson made a pair of free throws with 54.9 seconds left after being fouled by Curry, who had just converted two free throws to tie the game at 1:12. Curry drove through the paint and drew the sixth foul on Jonas Valanciunas.
Then Curry let loose, just as he did all season in one of his best years yet at age 33.
Curry's three-point play with 9:40 left got Golden State to 80-78, then he made a magnificent 3 the next time down while falling backward. Morant hit from deep moments later.
Memphis had to get to the postseason the hard way: winning a pair of play-in games.
The Grizzlies held off San Antonio 100-96 at home Wednesday night, then traveled back to the Bay Area. The Warriors lost a heartbreaker to LeBron James and the Lakers 103-100 at Staples Center on Wednesday.
''Obviously a crushing way to go out, two straight games that were basically gut punches,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''We felt like we had control of the game the other night and lost and then really didn't have the control of this one but could have won, we had the last shot in regulation. The ball just didn't go our way.''
Golden State missed Curry Splash Brother Klay Thompson for the second straight season, this time as he nurses a torn right Achilles tendon suffered just before training camp that required surgery.
The Warriors fell short of returning to the playoffs for the first time since reaching five straight NBA Finals in 2019 before losing in six games to Toronto.
Memphis ended a three-year playoff drought since making seven straight appearances through 2016-17, and lost in the first round in its previous two trips and four of those seven appearances overall.
The Warriors wanted to be focused from the opening tip, expecting another hot start by the Grizzlies who delivered just that - making their first seven shots and three 3s to jump ahead 18-6.
Memphis went ahead early on Golden State last week and also against the Spurs. This time against the Warriors, they closed it out.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: The bench scored 40 points. ... Brooks, a fourth-quarter key the past two games for the Grizzlies, finished 7 for 22 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point tries for 14 points. ... Valanciunas, who had 29 points and 16 rebounds Sunday, added nine points and 12 boards before taking a seat. ... After a 6-for-25 day on 3-pointers Sunday, Memphis wound up 15 of 35 from long range.
Warriors: Had won six straight home games after wrapping up the regular season with a 6-0 homestand. ... Golden State won 10 of the last 12 at home in all.
---
More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Kevon Looney (Draymond Green gains possession) | |||
11:46 | +2 | Kent Bazemore makes two point jump shot (Andrew Wiggins assists) | 0-2 | |
11:20 | +3 | Jaren Jackson Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 3-3 | |
11:01 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins makes two point jump shot | 3-5 | |
10:52 | Ja Morant turnover (bad pass) (Stephen Curry steals) | |||
10:48 | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
10:45 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | +3 | Ja Morant makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 6-5 | |
10:19 | +2 | Kevon Looney makes two point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 6-7 | |
10:03 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive foul (Draymond Green draws the foul) | |||
10:03 | Jonas Valanciunas turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:48 | Kent Bazemore misses three point jump shot | |||
9:44 | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | +2 | Ja Morant makes two point finger roll layup | 8-7 | |
9:28 | Draymond Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:17 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point floating jump shot | 10-7 | |
9:17 | Kent Bazemore shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
9:17 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-7 | |
8:59 | Andrew Wiggins turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | |||
8:54 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point layup | 13-7 | |
8:39 | Kevon Looney turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
8:33 | +3 | Ja Morant makes three point jump shot | 16-7 | |
8:31 | Warriors 60 second timeout | |||
8:19 | Stephen Curry turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
8:05 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point jump shot | 18-6 | |
7:50 | Jonas Valanciunas shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul) | |||
7:50 | Kent Bazemore misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:50 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
7:50 | +1 | Kent Bazemore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-7 | |
7:35 | Jaren Jackson Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:31 | Andrew Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
7:23 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point finger roll layup | 18-9 | |
7:12 | Stephen Curry personal foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
7:03 | Jaren Jackson Jr. misses two point layup | |||
6:59 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | |||
6:47 | Draymond Green misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:42 | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | Ja Morant misses two point finger roll layup | |||
6:27 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | |||
6:22 | Kent Bazemore misses two point layup | |||
6:19 | Ja Morant defensive rebound | |||
6:17 | Kent Bazemore blocks Dillon Brooks's two point layup | |||
6:17 | Grizzlies offensive rebound | |||
6:03 | +2 | Ja Morant makes two point finger roll layup | 20-9 | |
5:51 | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
5:46 | Juan Toscano-Anderson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:41 | Ja Morant defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Dillon Brooks misses two point jump shot | |||
5:27 | Kyle Anderson offensive rebound | |||
5:26 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point putback layup | 22-9 | |
5:15 | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
5:10 | Juan Toscano-Anderson offensive rebound | |||
5:10 | +2 | Juan Toscano-Anderson makes two point putback dunk | 22-11 | |
4:49 | Ja Morant misses two point finger roll layup | |||
4:49 | Warriors defensive rebound | |||
4:25 | Stephen Curry misses two point floating jump shot | |||
4:21 | Xavier Tillman defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Desmond Bane turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
4:08 | Draymond Green turnover (bad pass) (Ja Morant steals) | |||
4:06 | Jordan Poole personal foul (Take) (Ja Morant draws the foul) | |||
4:06 | Grizzlies 60 second timeout | |||
3:50 | Dillon Brooks misses two point jump shot | |||
3:45 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
3:25 | +3 | Kent Bazemore makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 22-14 | |
3:06 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving layup | 24-14 | |
2:57 | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
2:53 | Desmond Bane defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | Desmond Bane misses two point reverse layup | |||
2:44 | Kyle Anderson offensive rebound | |||
2:35 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point floating jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 24-16 | |
2:18 | Jaren Jackson Jr. shooting foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
2:18 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 24-17 | |
2:06 | Juan Toscano-Anderson shooting foul (Jaren Jackson Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:06 | +1 | Jaren Jackson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-17 | |
2:06 | +1 | Jaren Jackson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-17 | |
1:56 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point fadeaway jump shot | 26-20 | |
1:56 | Jaren Jackson Jr. shooting foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
1:56 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-21 | |
1:43 | Desmond Bane misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Jaren Jackson Jr. offensive rebound | |||
1:33 | Andrew Wiggins blocks Jaren Jackson Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
1:29 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
1:27 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists) | 26-24 | |
1:08 | Jaren Jackson Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:02 | +3 | Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 26-27 | |
0:49 | Ja Morant misses three point jump shot | |||
0:46 | Jaren Jackson Jr. offensive rebound | |||
0:45 | Andrew Wiggins shooting foul (Jaren Jackson Jr. draws the foul) | |||
0:45 | +1 | Jaren Jackson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-27 | |
0:45 | +1 | Jaren Jackson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-27 | |
0:36 | Jaren Jackson Jr. blocks Stephen Curry's two point driving layup | |||
0:35 | Grizzlies defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | Draymond Green blocks Ja Morant's two point driving layup | |||
0:17 | Ja Morant offensive rebound | |||
0:17 | +2 | De'Anthony Melton makes two point floating jump shot (Ja Morant assists) | 30-27 | |
0:04 | De'Anthony Melton shooting foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
0:04 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-28 | |
0:04 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-29 | |
0:00 | De'Anthony Melton misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Grizzlies offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +3 | De'Anthony Melton makes three point jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 33-29 | |
11:27 | +2 | Mychal Mulder makes two point alley-oop dunk (Juan Toscano-Anderson assists) | 33-31 | |
11:18 | +3 | Jonas Valanciunas makes three point jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 36-31 | |
11:00 | Jordan Poole misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:57 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | +2 | Desmond Bane makes two point finger roll layup (Grayson Allen assists) | 38-31 | |
10:29 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins makes two point floating jump shot | 38-33 | |
10:11 | Grayson Allen misses two point driving layup | |||
10:08 | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point finger roll layup | 38-35 | |
9:35 | Desmond Bane misses two point jump shot | |||
9:32 | Juan Toscano-Anderson defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Andrew Wiggins misses two point step back jump shot | |||
9:18 | Grizzlies defensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Kevon Looney personal foul (Loose ball) (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul) | |||
9:04 | Kevon Looney shooting foul (Desmond Bane draws the foul) | |||
9:04 | +1 | Desmond Bane makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-35 | |
9:04 | Warriors 60 second timeout | |||
9:04 | +1 | Desmond Bane makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-35 | |
8:50 | Andrew Wiggins misses two point finger roll layup | |||
8:46 | Kevon Looney offensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Jordan Poole misses two point jump shot | |||
8:41 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +3 | Desmond Bane makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 43-35 | |
8:16 | Mychal Mulder misses three point jump shot | |||
8:13 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | Desmond Bane misses three point jump shot | |||
7:56 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Jonas Valanciunas turnover (traveling) | |||
7:37 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins makes two point driving layup (Juan Toscano-Anderson assists) | 43-37 | |
7:37 | Jonas Valanciunas shooting foul (Andrew Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
7:37 | +1 | Andrew Wiggins makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 43-38 | |
7:26 | Andrew Wiggins personal foul (Jaren Jackson Jr. draws the foul) | |||
7:14 | Jordan Poole shooting foul (Tyus Jones draws the foul) | |||
7:14 | +1 | Tyus Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-38 | |
7:14 | +1 | Tyus Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 45-38 | |
6:56 | Mychal Mulder misses three point jump shot | |||
6:52 | Desmond Bane defensive rebound | |||
6:44 | Jaren Jackson Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:40 | Andrew Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
6:27 | Andrew Wiggins misses two point jump shot | |||
6:25 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Jaren Jackson Jr. personal foul (Loose ball) (Kevon Looney draws the foul) | |||
6:16 | +2 | Mychal Mulder makes two point dunk (Stephen Curry assists) | 45-40 | |
6:04 | +2 | Xavier Tillman makes two point floating jump shot (Ja Morant assists) | 47-40 | |
5:45 | Juan Toscano-Anderson turnover (bad pass) (Xavier Tillman steals) | |||
5:45 | Grizzlies 60 second timeout | |||
5:32 | Dillon Brooks misses two point jump shot | |||
5:28 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Draymond Green turnover (bad pass) (Xavier Tillman steals) | |||
5:04 | Ja Morant turnover (bad pass) (Draymond Green steals) | |||
4:58 | Juan Toscano-Anderson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:54 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
4:51 | Stephen Curry shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
4:51 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 |