SAN FRANCISCO — The feud between the Warriors and the Grizzlies culminated in a celebratory Western Convention Semifinal Christmas rematch on Sunday, by which the defending champions defeated the Grizzlies 123-109 on nationwide tv.
On an evening crammed with raucous celebrations, Klay Thompson despatched a message to the Grizzlies that the Warriors weren’t going anyplace anytime quickly. Thompson was dominated a technical foul – the sixth in a Warriors sport – after he taunted Dillon Brooks within the fourth quarter by looming over a Grizzlies ahead and throwing some “old school junk” at him as he lay on the court docket.
“I did not suppose it was technically justified, however I forgot concerning the taunt rule,” Thompson stated after the win. “It is at all times enjoyable to speak about trash. We have been doing this since we have been in highschool. It is whenever you both play to your limits otherwise you’re exhausted, which is normally the very first thing for me.”
Sunday marked the most recent chapter within the nascent rivalry between the 2 Western Convention adversaries. The 2 met in a play-in event in 2021 when Morant’s group despatched Curry and Co. residence. Within the spring, the Warriors acquired their revenge in a fiery Western Convention semi-final.
However lower than every week after Morant instructed ESPN there was nobody within the West he feared, the Warriors turned it over to the Grizzlies.
“You may’t discuss a dynasty in case you haven’t gained earlier than,” Thompson stated in a post-match interview. “I don’t suppose folks understood how onerous it’s. The dedication and sacrifice that it takes.”
Enjoying with out 4 gamers, together with two starters, the Warriors have been secured with a 32-point sport by Jordan Poole, who acquired his first profession redemption within the fourth, in addition to a 23-point exhibiting by Thompson.
There was concern about how the Warriors may substitute Stephen Curry’s offensive firepower in addition to Andrew Wiggins’ defensive prowess towards the athletic and bodily Grizzlies, who’re virtually totally recruited, with Desmond Bain taking part in his second sport in a row after lacking 17 contests with massive stretch. finger. However the Warriors, after dropping greater than 30 factors in a row, responded with a giant victory over probably the greatest groups within the Western Convention.
In response to Draymond Inexperienced, Pool scored 17 of his group’s 32 factors within the first quarter, giving the reigning champions a robust begin, who, in accordance with Draymond Inexperienced, made it to the house floor shorthanded and mentally weak.
Golden State prolonged their four-point lead late within the first quarter, taking a 19–8 result in a 15-point lead simply after the center of the second quarter.
However the Grizzlies made it again. Tyus Jones scored six factors, together with 4 free throws, within the final 27 seconds of the half, and the Grizzlies have been 5 behind at halftime.
The Grizzlies started to disintegrate within the third. At one level, the Warriors had 11 unanswered factors. Jordan Poole’s 16-foot basket made it 91-77, forcing Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins to take a timeout. Pool celebrated by operating previous the touchline, yelling and high-five to the followers.
The Grizzlies by no means recovered because the Warriors’ lead prolonged to 18 earlier than the tip of the third.
Pool was thrown on the 9:20 mark within the fourth quarter after receiving his second technical foul of the sport. However his absence did not matter. The Warriors acquired contributions from everybody on the roster. Six Golden State gamers completed in double figures. Donte Di Vincenzo scored a season-high 19 factors, together with 5 triples. Draymond Inexperienced had 13 assists and 13 rebounds.
Ty Jerome scored 12 of his 14 factors within the second half.
Thompson referred to as it an incredible group win, praising everybody’s efforts.
“I am simply pleased with these younger guys for staying prepared and never getting blown away after a tricky journey,” Thompson stated. “It was actual group work, it was power in numbers, that is what it actually was.”
In the meantime, Morant led the Grizzlies with 36 factors on 15 of 29 photographs. He additionally had eight assists and 7 rebounds. However nobody else within the Grizzlies actually got here as much as assist him, and Brooks and Tyus Jones every scored 13 factors to turn out to be the subsequent greatest contributors.
Golden State want to rebuild their lead forward of an eight-game new 12 months after a nightmarish 1-6 journey. Sunday’s victory was a step in the proper course.
“The best way we performed as we speak was very inspiring,” stated coach Steve Kerr. “I simply challenged the blokes to develop. Now we have seven residence video games forward of us in a row. We performed nice at residence, however this 12 months we did not decide up loads of velocity. These are kind of stops and begins. So it seems like it is time to flip it on.”
The Western Convention continues to be packed, with 5 ½ video games separating the primary and eleventh locations the place Golden State is positioned.
The Warriors improved their report to 12–2 at residence and 16–18 on the season. They’ll have in the future off earlier than returning to the Chase Heart on Tuesday to host the 9-24 Charlotte Hornets.
Damage updates
Wiggins missed his tenth sport in a row with a thigh pressure he sustained earlier this month.
Wiggins has not performed since Dec. 14, when he scored a season-high 36 factors on 14 of 19 photographs, together with eight triples. Wiggins stated on the time that his three-point shot by no means felt higher, however he hasn’t performed since.
The Warriors stay centered on getting Wiggins again throughout this eight-game residence sport, although Kerr famous his damage has dragged on longer than anticipated. Warriors director of sports activities medication and performances Dr. Rick Celebrini cautioned towards Wiggins’ untimely return.
“You must watch out with groin accidents,” Kerr stated earlier than the sport. “We’re simply attempting to watch out and provides him an additional day or a few days, no matter it takes to get him again. Hopefully he’ll play quickly, however I can not say precisely when that will likely be.”
A day after the Warriors confirmed that Curry’s shoulder damage would hold him out for a minimum of one other two weeks, the guard expressed hope he may return as quickly as two weeks have been up, even when he hadn’t began making contact but. .
“Hopefully the again works quite a bit quicker than the entrance,” Curry stated in a Q2 interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters.
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