MINNEAPOLIS — Dramatic first-round series. Memphis GrizzliesMemphis won the game 6 against Memphis on Friday night. There were comebacks and poster dunks as well as foul trouble and plenty of trash talk. Minnesota Timberwolves114-106 with another spectacular rally.
The conference semifinals are reached by the Grizzlies for the first time since 2015. They will be hosting the event. Golden State WarriorsIn Game 1 in Memphis (ABC at 3:30 p ET)
Memphis took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter for the third time in series. The Grizzlies continued to eat away at the deficit, taking the lead in the closing moments. A pall fell on the Timberwolves crowd at Target Center, who were just witnessing one of the greatest collapses in NBA history in Game 4 a little over a week.
Memphis guard Desmond BaneMemphis took its first lead in the second period when the most deadly sharpshooter of the series, Morant, made a 3-pointer with just three minutes left. Morant unleashed his trademark acrobatic layup soon after. Tyus JonesWith 1:09 remaining in the game, he drained a crucial 3 pointer that pushed the Grizzlies’ lead up to four. Memphis never trailed again.
It was a showcase of a lot of young stars like Ja Morant (Memphis point guard) and Big Man (Big man). Jaren Jackson Jr., Minnesota center Karl-Anthony TownsWings Anthony Edwards. Each of them experienced transcendent moments and had to endure difficult times.
Edwards produced the best work in his first playoff series. Towns was dominant during Timberwolves’ wins. However, he was plagued with foul trouble in losses. Jackson was also in foul trouble for much of the series and couldn’t play any offensive game.
Morant, however, was the star of the series. Morant, who was named an All-Star in 2022 for his third campaign, averaged 27.4 points per contest during the regular season. He also led the NBA in point in the paint. While his heroics in Game 5 fuelled another Memphis comeback in Memphis, he was limited for Game 6 as he was still in the series. Morant, who finished with 17 points, was crucial as the Grizzlies’ floor leader as they staged their fourth quarter comeback. He had 11 assists.
Like many series, the Grizzlies’ success formula included creative playmaking from Morant, intense outside shooting by second-year guard Desmond Bane and activity around the basket at reserve center Brandon Clarke.
The conference semifinals series between Memphis & Golden State begins Sunday afternoon. It’s a clash between the NBA’s most experienced squad, which has won three titles with its current core and one of the NBA’s youngest teams, who arrived in the league’s upper echelon before schedule.