As usual, the Grizzlies are off to the best start. With Tyus Jones and Steven Adams starting, instead of the injured Ja Morant and Xavier Tillman, Memphis is in the lead but their clumsiness keeps the Warriors in the beating. Despite a 0/10 3-point and 6 lost balls, Golden State remains in ambush (24-20).
In front of a dumbfounded Chase Center, the two teams redouble their clumsiness. The Grizzlies miss many opportunities to take control of the game. Golden State is serious in defense and it is necessary to wait for the 16th attempt of the Dubs at 3-pointers to see Otto Porter Jr unlock the counter of his team (35-31). At the break, the two teams are 6 out of 40 from afar and Memphis keeps a three-point lead (41-38).
With a much more aggressive Jaren Jackson Jr and an awakening to the offensive rebound thanks to Steven Adams, the Grizzlies keep control of operations and tempo to take an eight-point lead (60-52). The Warriors respond with an 8-2 to come back to -2 on an award-winning shot from Stephen Curry but they chain two horrible minutes. The Grizzlies then pass them a 14-4 straddling the third and fourth quarters to go to +12 (76-64)!
On the verge of breaking, the Warriors cling on thanks to two award-winning shots from Otto Porter Jr. before two more from Stephen Curry bring them back to -1 (89-88)! Despite all the efforts of Stephen Curry, Tyus Jones and Jaren Jackson Jr. remain solid not to let Golden State pass (93-90). Unfortunately for Memphis, the levee eventually gave way. Six free throws from Curry and Poole put the Warriors in front while Memphis gave the ball twice to a Dillon Brooks who was on the street all game (96-93).
The Grizzlies will never come back ahead. After conceding 38 points in the first half, they conceded 39 in the final period. They missed a golden opportunity to recover home advantage and will play their survival on Wednesday at home.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The absence of Steve Kerr. Placed in solitary confinement after a positive Covid test, the coach gave way to Mike Brown on the bench. Like in 2017 when he suffered from back pain. The future Kings coach has a perfect record as an interim coach: 13-0!
– Clumsiness from afar. After a Game 3 which had seen the two teams be boiling from afar, the first half of Game 4 offered us the opposite excess. The Warriors missed their first 15 shots behind the arc before returning to the locker room at 2 out of 20. They became the first team to miss so many award-winning shots to start a playoff game since the Thunder in 2011! The Grizzlies did them twice « better » with a nice 4 out of 20! Both teams were sorely lacking in pace, making even more than open shots impossible to convert. However, the prize goes to Golden State, which also added 11 loose balls in the first 24 minutes.
– Memphis controls the tempo of the game. Without Ja Morant and with Steven Adams back in the rotation, Taylor Jenkins’ strategy was to slow the tempo of the game as much as possible to limit the number of possessions and not give the Warriors any momentum. The Grizzlies executed this instruction to perfection by walking and trotting the ball up the ball, leaving Adams alone on the offensive rebound to favor the defensive fallback, and running in transition in an extremely selective way. Golden State fell for it, playing at the same pace as their opponents, and the Warriors were stalled all game.
– Stephen Curry takes matters into his own hands. With his team back against the wall and minutes away from an unacceptable loss, the two-time MVP has put the Warriors on his shoulders. Like Ja Morant in Game 2, he scored 18 of his team’s 39 points in the final quarter, sending two important award-winning shots to keep Golden State in ambush. He then attacked the circle to get free throw after free throw to sign the decisive 11-5 at the end of the match.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Stephen Curry. At 6 of 18 after three quarters, Stephen Curry woke up in the last quarter with his team at -12. He scored 18 of his 32 points to crucify the Grizzlies. He also became the first player in NBA history to reach 500 3-pointers in the playoffs.
✅ Andrew Wiggins – Otto Porter Jr. The Canadian finished in double doubles (17 points, 10 rebounds) and was the most consistent Warrior. His five offensive rebounds were decisive. Otto Porter Jr was also decisive, thanks in particular to his two award-winning shots in the last quarter to stop the bleeding before the Stephen Curry festival.
✅ Tyus Jones. Holder in the absence of Ja Morant, Tyus Jones was solid all game. He finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. As he controlled the final quarter, he stopped attacking the Warriors defense and it cost his team dearly.
✅ Jaren Jackson Jr.. The interior of the Grizzlies scored 15 of his 21 points after the break, attacking his vis-à-vis to take advantage of his height advantage. He missed the right shot in the last 30 seconds. He also finished with 5 blocks.
✅Steven Adams. Holder this night, the pivot also finished in double-double (10 points, 15 rebounds). His presence in the racket was good. He grabbed 6 of his team’s 10 offensive rebounds, but the Warriors still won the rebound battle (54-48).
✅ Kyle Anderson. The former Spur scored 17 points off the bench and punished Jordan Poole throughout the game. Taylor Jenkins, however, took him out late in the game and one wonders why.
⛔ Dillon Brooks. Back after his suspension, the back of the Grizzlies delivered a deplorable performance. He finished 5 of 19 on shots, lost 4 balls, and forced in money time when Tyus Jones and JJJ should have had all the balls.
⛔ Desmond Bane. He continues his Way of the Cross. Well defended by Stephen Curry, he took just eight shots and scored 8 points when he was expected to have more responsibility in Morant’s absence. His back unfortunately continues to handicap him.
⛔ Klay Thompson-Jordan Poole. The two gunslingers finished the game at 10 out of 32 on shots, including 0/10 from 3-pointers. They also lost seven balls.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 5 : on the night of Wednesday to Thursday in Memphis.
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