Warriors Vs. Grizzlies 5/16/2021

The Grizzlies entered this game riding a 5 game win streak. The Warriors were also riding a 5 game win streak entering this game. This was the last game of the regular season for both the Warriors and the Grizzlies. This was an extremely important game for the Warriors and the Grizzlies because whichever team won this game would secure themselves the 8th seed which would give them a chance at the playoffs with a win or a loss and then a win. The loser of this game would get the 9th seed and would have to win twice in a row to get the 8th seed. Stephen Curry was also extremely likely to have won the scoring title after the game. This game was the first game that Ja Morant and Stephen Curry would play each other in their careers. Kelly Oubre Jr. and James Wiseman would not play in this game for the Warriors. The Grizzlies would have Jaren Jackson Jr. in this game who they didn’t have in these teams’ first 2 matchups. Some people were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame the other day including players Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Chris Webber, and Ben Wallace. Rick Adelman, Jay Wright, and Bill Russell were the coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yolanda Griffith and Lauren Jackson were inducted from the WNBA as well. For the Grizzlies to win they needed to defend Steph well, shoot well, and find a nice game out of Ja Morant. For the Warriors to win they needed to rebound well, defend Ja Morant and Jonas Valančiūnas, and find a nice game out of Stephen Curry. Would the Warriors or the Grizzlies get the 8th seed for the play in tournament? To the game!

Jonas Valančiūnas won the tip which led to a Dillon Brooks layup. At the 11 minute mark Andrew Wiggins dunked in a lob to give the Warriors their first points of the game. At 9:21 Jonas Valančiūnas made 2 free throws to give the Grizzlies a 6 point lead. At 8:28 Draymond Green made a layup to make it a 4 point game. Then at the 8 minute mark Ja Morant made a layup of his own to retake a 6 point lead for the Grizzlies. At 5:12 Juan Toscano-Anderson made a 3 to make it a 4 point game. At 4:52 Jonas Valančiūnas made a putback layup to retake a 6 point lead for the Grizzlies. At 4:17 Draymond Green made a dunk to cut the Warriors deficit to 4. Jonas Valančiūnas quickly came back with a turnaround jumper retaking a 6 point lead for the Grizzlies. Then at 3:45 Stephen Curry made a reverse layup to make it a 4 point game. At 3:24 Steph made a floater to secure himself the scoring title and make it a 2 point game. To end the quarter Steph made a floater. The Warriors led 30-29 after the 1st quarter. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry with 9 points and the Grizzlies were led by Jonas Valančiūnas with 11 points in the first quarter. In the first quarter the Warriors had 2 fewer assists, 4 fewer rebounds, 2 fewer turnovers, and 2 fewer fouls than the Grizzlies. The Warriors and Grizzlies had 2 steals and a block each as well. The Warriors shot greatly in the first quarter with a whopping 52.2% from the field and 28.6% from 3. The Grizzlies shot a bit better with 54.5% from the field and 25% from deep. Both teams entered the 2nd quarter hoping to pull away from the other team.

To start the 3rd quarter Andrew Wiggins made a step back jumper. At 10:32 De’Anthony Melton made a jumper to give the Grizzlies their first points of the quarter. At 8:25 Kevon Looney made a slammed home a dunk to give the Warriors a 6 point lead. At 5:29 Kyle Anderson made a hook shot to make it a 5 point game. Then at the 5 minute mark Jonas Valančiūnas made a couple of free throws to make it a 3 point game. At 3:54 Stephen Curry made a jumper to give the Warriors a 5 point lead. At 3:41 Ja Morant made 1 of 2 free throws to make it a 4 point game. At 2:46 Andrew Wiggins made a 3 to retake a 5 point lead for the Warriors. Then at 2:32 Kyle Anderson made a floater to make it a 3 point game once more. At 2:23 Andrew Wiggins came right back retaking a 5 point lead for the Warriors. At 1:53 Juan Toscano-Anderson made a dunk to give the Warriors a 7 point lead. To end the half Ja Morant made a 3. The Warriors led 55-49 at halftime. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal, and a block. Andrew Wiggins was having a great game as well with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and a steal. Draymond Green was also helping out the team with 8 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and a block. The Warriors bench was huge as well in the 2nd quarter getting them a 7 point lead. The Grizzlies were led by Jonas Valančiūnas with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist in the first half. Ja Morant was playing well as well with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal. Kyle Anderson was contributing as well with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. In the first half the Warriors had 1 more assist, 5 fewer rebounds, 1 more steal, 1 fewer block, and 1 fewer foul than the Grizzlies. The Warriors and Grizzlies had 7 turnovers each in the first half as well. The Warriors shot well in the first half with 50% from the field and 28.6% from deep. The Grizzlies shot decently in the first half with 41.3% from the field and an abysmal 16.7% from 3 point range. The Warriors entered the 3rd quarter hoping to further expand their lead over the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies entered the 3rd quarter hoping to steal the lead and the momentum. To the third!

To start the 3rd quarter Andrew Wiggins made a pullup jumper. At 10:32 Steph made a 3 to give the Warriors an 11 point lead. At 10:09 Jonas Valančiūnas made a fadeaway jumper to give the Grizzlies their first points of the quarter and make it a 9 point game. At 8:53 Jaren Jackson Jr. made a 3 to make it a 4 point game for the Grizzlies. Then at 8:23 Andrew Wiggins made a 3 retaking a 7 point lead for the Warriors. At 6:37 Steph made a 3 to give the Warriors an 11 point lead. At 4:55 Steph got a 3 point play to give the Warriors a 16 point lead. At 4:39 Ja Morant made a floater to make it a 14 point game. Then at 3:44 Juan Toscano-Anderson made a layup to retake a 16 point lead for the Warriors. At 3:29 Desmond Bane made a 3 to make it a 13 point game. Steph came back though with a 3 to retake a 16 point lead for the Warriors at 2:47. At the 1 minute mark De’Anthony Melton made a hook shot to make it a 14 point game. Then with 38.7 seconds left in the quarter Kevon Looney made a turnaround jumper. With 26.5 seconds left in the quarter Desmond Bane made a step back jumper. To end the quarter Jordan Poole made a 3. The Warriors led 86-69 after the 3rd quarter. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry with 30 points in the first 3 quarters and the Grizzlies were led by Jonas Valančiūnas with 19 points. In the first 3 quarters the Warriors had 6 more assists, 3 more rebounds, 1 fewer steal, 2 fewer blocks, and 2 more turnovers. The Warriors and Grizzlies each had 13 fouls as well. The Warriors shot well in the first 3 quarters shooting 50% from the field and 37% from 3. The Grizzlies weren’t shooting very well with 40.6% from the field and 23.5% from deep. The Warriors entered the 4th quarter hoping to play well and get the win and the Grizzlies entered the 4th quarter hoping to play amazingly and get a great comeback win.

To start the 4th quarter Dillon Brooks made a pullup jumper. At 9:28 Dillon Brooks made a 3 to make it a 9 point game. At 8:51 Steph made 2 free throws to give the Warriors their first points of the quarter and an 11 point lead. At 8:34 Jonas Valančiūnas made a layup to make it a 9 point game once more. Then at 8:23 Steph made a 3 to give the Warriors a 12 point lead. At 8:10 Jaren Jackson Jr. made a floater to cut the deficit to 10 for the Grizzlies. At 7:15 Dillon Brooks made 2 free throws to make it a 5 point game. At 6:32 Dillon Brooks tied the game with a 3 point play. Then at 6:12 Dillon Brooks fouled out of the game and giving Draymond Green 2 free throws, both of which he made. At 5:56 Jonas Valančiūnas made an alley oop dunk to tie the game back up. At 5:28 Ja Morant made a floater to give the Grizzlies the lead. At 5:08 Draymond Green made a floater of his own to retie the game. Then at 4:49 Jonas Valančiūnas made a tip in layup to retake the lead for the Grizzlies. At 4:28 Jordan Poole made a 3 to take the lead for the Warriors. At 3:17 Steph made a 3 to give the Warriors a 6 point lead. At 1:35 Steph made another 3 to give the Warriors a 12 point lead. Then with 54.1 seconds left in the game Jonas Valančiūnas made a layup to make it a 10 point game. With 38.8 seconds left in the game Draymond Green made 2 free throws to give the Warriors a 12 point lead. To end the game Steph made a free throw. The Warriors won 113-101.

Leo’s Courtside Commentary: This was a great win for the Warriors that gave them the 8th seed in the play in tournament and they would play the Lakers in the play in tournament. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry with a whopping 46 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and a block. Andrew Wiggins had a great game as well with 21 points, 10 rebounds, a steal, and a block. Draymond Green played a great game as well with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks. The Grizzlies were led by Jonas Valančiūnas in this game with 29 points, 16 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Dillon Brooks had a great game with 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ja Morant chipped in as well with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and a steal. The Warriors ended up with 1 more assist, 7 more rebounds, 3 fewer steals, 1 fewer block, 7 more turnovers, and 2 fewer fouls than the Grizzlies. The Warriors shot well with 49.4% from the field, 38.5% from downtown, and 88.9% on free throws. The Grizzlies didn’t shoot very well with 43.5% from the field, 24% from 3, and 78.9% from the free throw line. The Warriors record ended up being 39-33. This win grew the Warriors win streak to 6 games. Overall, this was a great win for the Warriors led by Stephen Curry.