If Match 1 between the Warriors and the Grizzlies is an indicator of the quality of basketball we will see throughout the series, we have a treat, as Golden State, fueled by a third-quarter 39-point lead by Jordan Poole, got rid of the advantage of home ground. with a 117-116 victory.
The game was tight for much of the first quarter, but Memphis managed to draw the first blood with a late 9-0 to take an 8-point lead in the second quarter. At the forefront was Ja Morant, who beautifully orchestrated the Memphis attack, especially when they were able to get out and run away from the Warriors’ turnovers.
He throws it away, and Brandon Clarke breaks it! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/jVbl4ZGvHf – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
He drives tirelessly to the rack! Consecutive buckets for Ja to end Q1 for @ memgrizz. # NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/1OMFbNUFZh – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
The Warriors would respond with their own round in the second quarter, while Jordan Poole occupied the center of the stage, finding an open space in the perimeter to help Golden State retrieve Memphis.
Jordan Poole puts down a pair of three to reduce the lead! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/k2PD78JQrP – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
The first half of the first half came with a Draymond Green foul on Brandon Clarke, in which he hit the young Grizzlies center forward, blocking and then dragged him down by his shirt. After the review, it was established that the combination of fouls met the criteria for a flagrant 2, and Green was excluded from the game.
Draymond Green was excluded from the game … pic.twitter.com/tk4NBOEHpP – Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) May 1, 2022
Almost immediately, the Grizzlies went running, with a pair of Morant baskets that closed out the Grizzlies-style half, pushing their lead to six at the break.
Melton receives the block at one end, Ja knocks down the other ? pic.twitter.com/6Ac0tSgQ5K – NBA TV (@NBATV) May 1, 2022
Ja attacks the paint and lowers the float to win the ringing of the first half! GSW 55 | MEM 61
Pause # NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/cZvM7InvZO – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
In the third quarter, Golden State came out with extra fire and more attention to detail on the offensive side, reducing business losses and creating a series of open looks for Poole, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, as a shooter trio. . he started to lose weight and helped turn a 6-point deficit into a 1-point lead by going to fourth.
Steph drills the corner and-1 3 to give @ the warriors the lead! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/fjrlJJ2hbb – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
The Warriors could very well have put the game aside in the third quarter if it weren’t for the efforts of Jaren Jackson Jr., who buried three after three to keep the Grizzlies attached.
Trip J takes down his 5th triple in the game! JJJ has a career record in the playoffs, 28 PTS and 5 3PM ? # NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/awiUSDOZtL – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
At the start of the fourth, it was the Warriors’ turn to go into another round, as Poole and Thompson hit some big blows to push the lead to 10 in the middle of the period.
Klay drops 3 to push leader @warriors to 6 in Q4! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/RAjNKLbNJg – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
Jordan Poole of DEEP ? pic.twitter.com/fx6Ywkzs6R – NBA TV (@NBATV) May 1, 2022
As was the case in their first round series, the Grizzlies had a response in the fourth quarter ready, with Ja Morant taking center stage as they began to turn the defense into attack after seeing their midfield sets. blocked at the beginning of the quarter.
@memgrizz scores 4 quick points to equalize in Q4! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/yPwqjo0A3q – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
After equalizing, Memphis came back with two on a Morant layup where he was fouled (but would miss the free throw).
JA DOBĂ AND 1 IN AMBREIE! #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/ANBuYdP7wJ – NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022
Each time the Grizzlies took the lead with a Morant bucket, the Warriors were given a light bucket at the other end, first a second chance clog by Andrew Wiggins and then an explosive cover that led to a Gary Payton II dive. They made up for Ja’s effort and tied the game at 114-114, when Brandon Clarke gave Memphis a two-point lead in a lob game.
? CLARKE GIVES HIM A PILOM MEM @ warriors 114 | @memgrizz 116
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