NBA – An exceptional Ja Morant to bring down the Golden State Warriors, Brown and the Boston Celtics recover

Grizzlies–Warriors: 106-101

The two teams are tied 1-1

Win or lose, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies have promised to fight to the end and back down from no one. Not even Stephen Curry’s Warriors. Led by four points just under four minutes from the siren, they managed to overthrow their opponents in the money time to finally win (106-101) and equalize with a victory everywhere in the series. Morant was the central figure in this late comeback.

Untenable, constantly attacking the defense with the ball in hand, the young leader scored 15 points in a row to conclude the game: 15 points in four minutes, out of his 47 points scored in this match. His three-pointer 2’30 » from the mermaid gave Memphis the advantage again late. Stephen Curry answered him but Morant added two layups from close range while being impeccable on the throw line- frank.

A new record in the playoffs for the jewel of Memphis. He was able to take over Curry (27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists but 11 of 25) and all the other players that Golden State sent on a mission on him. But beyond his performance, the Grizzlies were able to make a difference on defense by stifling the Warriors’ snipers and severely limiting their number of open three-point shots. Opposing stars suffered behind the arc: only 3 out of 11 for Curry. 2 of 12 for Klay Thompson for a 7/38 overall for Steve Kerr’s men.

A profitable method to slow down the best attack of the playoffs. The 18 lost balls also hurt a Californian team which may have been smug at times. She will not be able to afford it on her floor during Game 3. It will probably be without Gary Payton II, the main anti-Morant defensive weapon, and seriously injured in the elbow at the start of the match by Dillon Brooks, excluded for this flagrant foul which could to speak.

Celtics-Bucks: 109-86

The two teams are tied 1-1

The truth of one match is not always that of the next. The Celtics and Jaylen Brown recalled it by winning quite clearly in Game 2 against the Bucks (109-86), two days after conceding Game 1 at home. « We can’t let a meeting dictate the rest of the series« said Brown, author of 30 points after being clumsy in the previous game. »You had to be aggressive from the start.« That’s exactly what he did.

Hard-hitting, he quickly got into the rhythm by chaining the baskets and Boston took control of the game in the first quarter (32-21) while driving the point home in the second. 65-40 at the break with already 25 points from the All-Star fullback, who converted 9 of his 10 attempts (5/5 from behind the arc) in the first 24 minutes.

He calmed down a bit afterwards but Milwaukee was already on the ropes. Jayson Tatum also showed a better face by compiling 29 points and 8 assists. Executives rode the way and duty players followed, 21 points for Grant Williams, 11 for Al Horford, again excellent in defense. The veteran struggled to slow Giannis Antetokounmpo as best he could. The latter has accumulated 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists but 11 of 27 on shots and losing 6 balls.

Too much clumsiness for the Bucks, who for example scored only three award-winning baskets in 18 attempts. The two teams are now tied, one round everywhere, before Game 3 which already promises to be decisive.