Grizzlies Edge Spurs, 100-96
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 100-96, in a Western Conference play-in game at FedEx Forum on Wednesday night.
The Grizzlies (39-34) couldn't have asked for a better start, as they came out of the gates hot by forging a 38-19 lead through a dominant opening period. That seemed to bring the Spurs (33-39) to life, as San Antonio put a 12-point dent into its deficit before halftime by limiting Memphis to 18 points during the second quarter. After each squad matched each other bucket for bucket in the third, the home squad was able to build eight points of separation with just 1:25 remaining and then held off the visitors with the aid of a late Ja Morant free throw after Rudy Gay's three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left got the Spurs within three.
DeMar DeRozan and Gay co-led the Spurs with 20 points each, with Gay also pulling down seven rebounds. Keldon Johnson generated an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl posted matching 10-point tallies; Murray added 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while Poeltl recorded 10 boards and five blocks.
Dillon Brooks paced the Grizzlies with 24 points, supplementing them with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Jonas Valanciunas posted a 23-point, 23-rebound double-double that also included one assist and three blocks. Morant furnished 20 points, six boards, six assists and one steal. Jaren Jackson delivered 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
The Spurs are now eliminated, while the Grizzlies will play the loser of Wednesday night's Lakers-Warriors showdown on Friday night.
The Grizzlies (39-34) couldn't have asked for a better start, as they came out of the gates hot by forging a 38-19 lead through a dominant opening period. That seemed to bring the Spurs (33-39) to life, as San Antonio put a 12-point dent into its deficit before halftime by limiting Memphis to 18 points during the second quarter. After each squad matched each other bucket for bucket in the third, the home squad was able to build eight points of separation with just 1:25 remaining and then held off the visitors with the aid of a late Ja Morant free throw after Rudy Gay's three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left got the Spurs within three.
DeMar DeRozan and Gay co-led the Spurs with 20 points each, with Gay also pulling down seven rebounds. Keldon Johnson generated an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl posted matching 10-point tallies; Murray added 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while Poeltl recorded 10 boards and five blocks.
Dillon Brooks paced the Grizzlies with 24 points, supplementing them with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Jonas Valanciunas posted a 23-point, 23-rebound double-double that also included one assist and three blocks. Morant furnished 20 points, six boards, six assists and one steal. Jaren Jackson delivered 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
The Spurs are now eliminated, while the Grizzlies will play the loser of Wednesday night's Lakers-Warriors showdown on Friday night.
Lakers Defeat Warriors, 103-100
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 103-100, in the play-in game at Staples Center on Wednesday.
This game determined who would face the Phoenix Suns as the seven-seed in the Western Conference and the Lakers will head to Arizona to start that series over the weekend. With that said, the Warriors held the lead for the first three quarters but the Lakers rode a 61-45 second half to their comeback victory. There were five ties and three lead changes in the final quarter though, with LeBron James hitting the game-winning three from 35-feet out in the final minute. Los Angeles recorded 27 assists to 11 turnovers while Golden State committed 20 turnovers to just 18 assists. That can be attributed to the Lakers out-stealing the Warriors, 15-8.
The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry and his 37 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Andrew Wiggins amassed 21 points, three rebounds and two assists. Kent Bazemore collected 10 points, four rebounds and five steals. Draymond Green finished with two points, nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks.
The Lakers got a triple-double from James, collecting 22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Anthony Davis led the team with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Dennis Schroder accrued 12 points, three rebounds and five assists while Alex Caruso led the bench with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Golden State's next game will be on Friday, playing host to the Memphis Grizzlies for the eight-seed. As for Los Angeles, they'll travel to face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
This game determined who would face the Phoenix Suns as the seven-seed in the Western Conference and the Lakers will head to Arizona to start that series over the weekend. With that said, the Warriors held the lead for the first three quarters but the Lakers rode a 61-45 second half to their comeback victory. There were five ties and three lead changes in the final quarter though, with LeBron James hitting the game-winning three from 35-feet out in the final minute. Los Angeles recorded 27 assists to 11 turnovers while Golden State committed 20 turnovers to just 18 assists. That can be attributed to the Lakers out-stealing the Warriors, 15-8.
The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry and his 37 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Andrew Wiggins amassed 21 points, three rebounds and two assists. Kent Bazemore collected 10 points, four rebounds and five steals. Draymond Green finished with two points, nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks.
The Lakers got a triple-double from James, collecting 22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Anthony Davis led the team with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Dennis Schroder accrued 12 points, three rebounds and five assists while Alex Caruso led the bench with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Golden State's next game will be on Friday, playing host to the Memphis Grizzlies for the eight-seed. As for Los Angeles, they'll travel to face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.