:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69327140/1319347643.0.jpg)
The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the postseason.
In a thrilling overtime contest, Ja Morant out-dueled Stephen Curry in the final play-in tournament game to give the Grizzlies a 114-109 win over the Golden State Warriors. Memphis secures the No. 8 seed in the West and will meet the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz in the first round. The Jazz expect to have star guard Donovan Mitchell ready to go for Game 1.
Morant finished with 35 points, six assists and six rebounds, but it was his six three-point makes that were crucial in opening the offense up for Memphis. Curry followed up his strong effort against the Lakers with 39 points, but got little help from his teammates early. Green would eventually finish with a triple-double, and Andrew Wiggins added 22 points on 10-22 shooting.
The over hit due to the overtime period, but the majority of bettors picked against the Grizzlies. Memphis will be heavy underdogs against the Jazz in the first round.
After a back-and-forth first quarter, Memphis pulled away with a 32-20 advantage in the second. The Grizzlies took a 62-49 lead into halftime, but Golden State cut the deficit to five points to begin the fourth quarter. The Warriors got to within a point at 82-81 on a three-pointer from Curry, but Memphis responded with a 7-0 run to jump back in front 89-81. The Grizzlies would expand on this lead, but the Warriors closed the game on a 14-4 run to force overtime.
The Grizzlies held a 107-103 advantage in overtime before Green sank a triple to make it 107-106. Jordan Poole added a clutch triple of his own to give the Warriors a 109-107 lead before Xavier Tillman’s three-pointer gave the Grizzlies the lead again. Morant made another floater to push the Grizzlies’ advantage to 112-109 before Poole turned the ball over. Another floater from Morant gave the Grizzlies a five-point lead they would not relinquish.
Game 1 between the Jazz and Grizzlies is Sunday, May 23 at 9:30 PM ET on TNT.