Tag: Memphis Grizzlies

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Is Green hurting the team with his uncontrolled emotions or is he a big part of the Warriors DNA

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Once again the Golden State Warriors Draymond Green (23) expresses his discontent with the officiating after getting his second technical and ejected in game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum in Memphis on Sun May 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast:

#1 Barbara, Draymond Green has a history that goes all the way back to when he got into it with former Warrior Kevin Durant on the Warrior bench and his numerous times of being thrown out of games is there a point when the Warriors have to realize his behavior is a hinderance or they can look past all that and he’s been a great help?

#2 Talk about the three pointer that Klay Thompson hit with 36 seconds left to get the Warriors the lead in a tight ball game.

#3 Warrior guard Stephen Curry said that it’s in the Warriors DNA to win championships and saying the team never let’s go of the rope and it was a big win for the Warriors.

#4 Jordan Poole poured it on at the right time with a career high 31 points hitting five three pointers in the contest. As it turned out everyone of them helped.

#5 Barbara after observing this game how close to you see this see this series going as both teams meet again Tue May 3rd in Memphis for a 6:30 pm PDT tip off.

Join Barbara for the Warriors podcasts each Monday during the NBA Playoffs at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors win thriller in Memphis 117-116; Take 1-0 lead in series

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) and guard De’Anthony Melton (0) at the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis on Sun May 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Win Thriller In Memphis 117-116

By Barbara Mason

Ever since the Golden State Warriors finished off their series with the Denver Nuggets winning 4-1 the Warriors had all been wondering who their opponent in the semifinals would be. Friday night they got their answer when the Memphis Grizzlies finished off the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106 winning the series 4-2.

This semifinal series started on the road for the Warriors at Fed Ex Forum winning the first game of the series in a narrow 117-116 victory to take a 1-0 lead. Golden State played in their seventh Western Conference semifinal in ten seasons.

The Warriors were healthy and ready for this game against a young, deep talented Memphis team. There is a history here. The Warriors rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the second round against Memphis back in 2015.

Ja Morant has put a real spark into the Grizzlies leading them into the semis for the first time in seven years. Their backcourt is one of the best in basketball making them an incredibly confident team. Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane are very strong offensive players for Memphis. They kept the Golden State defense on their toes throughout the contest.

The Warriors were coming off of a three day pause and were well aware of the challenge that lied ahead of them. This was kind of a role reversal with the Warriors coming in as a group of experienced veterans and the Grizzlies the youngsters.

In 2015 it was the opposite way around with Golden State being the younger team. Will the vast playoff experience help the Warriors in this series? We soon found out in this highly anticipated series.

Game 1 recap: The wait was finally over and the first quarter got underway. Memphis came out strong and led after 12 minutes 32-24. The Grizzlies extended their lead at the half 61-55.

The Warriors suffered a heavy blow when with 1:18 left in the second quarter Draymond Green was ejected from the game after committing a flagrant foul which was suspect at best. After two quarters of basketball the Warriors would have to dig deep especially with the loss of Green.

The Warriors won the third quarter 36-29 and took the lead after three 91-90 in a tight contest. The team was visibly upset after the ejection but pulled it together playing some great offense. One quarter remained in this game that Golden State wanted badly to win.

Jordan Poole was shooting lights out and was leading the team in shooting. He was single handedly trying to will his team to the win.

With 3:20 left in this game it was a dead heat tied at 108. At two minutes it was a tie 112-112 in a crazy Game One. With 1:17 left in the game the tie remained 114-114. The Warriors took a one point lead with 3.6 left on the clock. Ja Morant would miss a two point shot and the Warriors had won a hard-fought road game against a very tough Grizzly team.

Ja Morant was the high score for the Grizzlies with 34 points followed by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 33. Either team was in position to take this game and it all came down to that one missed shot by Morant who does not miss very often. It could have come down to youth and inexperience in that final shot.

Poole was the hero of this game with 31 points in 38 minutes. He was 5 of 10 from downtown in a brilliant game by the 22-year-old. Stephen Curry finished with 24 points and hung in there with five personal fouls.

Wiggins, Poole and Porter Jr. all had eight rebounds apiece in a nice defensive effort. While there is lots of room for improvement this was a great start in this series for Golden State. A road win in the NBA semifinals is huge for any team.

Game Two of this series is scheduled for Tuesday May 3rd in Memphis. Tipoff is 6:30 PM.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors host one of the NBA’s hottest teams the Suns tonight at Chase

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green at the Footprint Arena in Phoenix on Sun Mar 27, 2022. The Golden State Warriors host the Suns tonight at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with David:

#1 Dave, the Golden State Warriors (48-28) have lost six of their last seven games and have lost three in a row. Its seems that when Stephen Curry is present in the line up this team is on it’s A game without him they either are in close games or as you see in their last seven games struggle to win.

#2 Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ejected during their last game against the Memphis Grizzlies (53-23) do you see this as just frustration or Kerr really knows this team is not the same winning team they were in the first half of this season.

#3 Things don’t get any easier as the host Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns (64-14) who’ve won eight in row and defeated one of the best teams in the NBA the Philadelphia 76ers (46-29) by ten 114-104 in Phoenix. Do you see the Warriors who host the Suns having their hands full tonight at Chase Center?

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Grizzlies Pick Golden State Apart 123-95; Loss is Warriors third in a row

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Grizzlie Adams: Memphis Grizzlies’ Steven Adams (4) loses the ball as the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton ll, left gets a grip on it at the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis Mon Mar 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

Grizzlies Pick Golden State Apart 123-95

By Barbara Mason

It has been less than a week for the Warriors on this current road trip but it has felt like much longer. It has been a more than frustrating trip and one of the most important components for the Warriors did not accompany the team and that is the three point shot. It has been MIA.

Monday night the Warriors (48-28) played their last game of the road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies (53-23). Klay Thompson and Draymond Green did not play in this game although Andre Iguodala was able to play after a bit of an absence.

It was great to have him back on the floor The Memphis Grizzlies will still be without Ja Morant who will be re-evaluated in several weeks.

The Warriors were able to stay close in the first quarter trailing 20-16. The shots from downtown were few and far between for Golden State as were every shot they took. Both teams looked awful. The Warriors looked like a team that had played 5 games in seven days; low energy and just absolutely dragging. It had really taken a toll.

The Grizzlies came to life in the second quarter and really went to work on the Warriors. Not only were the Warriors shots from downtown missing, their entire offense was missing. They were sleepwalking through the entire first half.

The Grizzlies were picking the Warriors apart leading 63-37 at the half. The only Warrior in double digits was Jordan Poole with ten points. When you ask if this game could get any worse, the answer is yes. As the quarter came to an end Head Coach Steve Kerry was ejected in the closing seconds of the half. This was the Warriors second largest deficit this season.

The Warriors had to try to finish this game on a good note. It would take all they could muster to get some energy going because it sure looked like the tank was completely empty.

The Warriors just had to play possession to possession in the third quarter and ignore the scoreboard. Memphis continued to toy with the Warriors and continuing to extend their lead although ever so slightly.

In all fairness the Warriors scored 37 points in the first half and 30 points in the third quarter. They played a better game and the Grizzlies barely edged them in the quarter 32-30. Memphis took a 95-67 lead into the fourth quarte

As the fourth quarter came to an end the Warriors had suffered their worst loss of the season 123-95. While it was a terrible loss there were some bright spots. Jordan Poole had his 14th straight game with 20 plus points scoring 25 points in this one. The return of Andre Iguodala was another bright spot.

Right now the most important thing for the Warriors is to get home safely and regroup. This has to be the worst road trip that the team has had all season. With six games left in the regular season the sting of this road trip has to be left behind.

The team needs to get healthy and play a few games to get their rhythm and flow going into the playoffs.

Wednesday night the Warriors will be taking on the best team in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns. This will be another tough assignment for Golden State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Warriors Survive With a High Octane Finish against Nuggets 113-102

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A late second half basket by the Golden State Warriors Jordan Poole gets Stephen Curry (30) excited against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Mar 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Survive With a High Octane Finish against Nuggets 113-102

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night the Golden State Warriors (45-22) took on the Denver Nuggets (40-27) in a game that screams deja vu. if you said hey didn’t we just play these guys Monday night the answer would be a resounding yes and the Warriors lost that one. They didn’t lose on Thursday night with a 113-102 win.

So here are the Warriors back in Denver for a second time in less than a week. The Warriors will have to find a way to contain Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets are currently in a tie for fifth place and a single game out of fourth place. They have a lot to play for in tonight’s game as does Golden State. The Warriors would like to get back into second place in the standings.

The Warriors had a fast start in this game and as expected Jokic was a huge presence throughout the quarter. The Warriors held a slim lead after the first quarter 30-29. The Nuggets came on strong in the second quarter winning it 31-21 and taking a 60-51 halftime lead.

The first two quarters were hotly contested. The Warriors were allowing too many open and uncontested Nugget looks which contributed to the Denver half time lead.

The Nuggets had taken a 14 point lead in the third quarter after the first four minutes of play. Momentum was clearly on their side. As we have seen so many time in the past however, momentum can turn on a dime. The Warriors waged a comeback as the quarter came to an end taking the lead in this game 88-84.

The fourth quarter was a high-octane affair for both teams. The Warriors led through seven minutes of the quarter. The Nuggets made a comeback tying up the game at 98. Denver would go one to take a slim lead before Jordan Poole iced the game.

Poole shot two from downtown with 54 seconds left on the clock and Golden State had survived a very tough challenge. They won this game.

Stephen Curry had a great game with 34 points and was five of 12 from downtown. Off the bench the hero of the game Jordan Poole had 21 points and was four of seven from downtown including the two critical shots in the final minute of the game. Golden State displayed some great defense especially in the fourth quarter.

Jokic was not hitting three’s tonight which made things awfully hard on Denver. The Warriors defense had a lot to do with the missed Jokic shots. He would finish with 23 points and zip from three point range.

This was a gritty, gutsy game that Golden State played, especially down the stretch. They did not fall apart, making critical baskets when desperately needed. The Warriors are now in second play tied with the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference.

This is a second win in a row for the Warriors and they hope to string a third on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 PM.

Morant Leads Grizzlies To Win Over Warriors 115-108

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots against Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney (5) and forwards Andre Iguodala (9) and Andrew Wiggins (22) in Memphis on Tue Jan 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

Morant Leads Grizzlies To Win Over Warriors 116-108

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors (30-10) took on the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies (29-14). Memphis is riding on a nine-game winning streak and they will make the Warriors work for this game. They are led by Ja Morant one of the best point guards in the game today. The absence of Draymond Green would be a factor in this game. So a lot of tough challenges in this game for Golden State.

The Warriors were outplayed in the first half. The ugly turnovers were an issue and the three points shooting was almost non-existent. Golden State was three of 13 from downtown. The Warriors have been struggling offensively especially from long range and the Grizzlies have a solid offense and defense that turned the Warriors away shot after shot.

Many of the turnovers from Golden State were due to the unrelenting defense of Memphis. With the Grizzlies leading 59-51 and under one minutes left in the half, the Warriors wanted to make a small run before the clock ran out. At the half. the Warriors had cut an 18 point deficit to eight.

The points off of the 12 Warrior turnovers were hurting them while the Grizzlies were fueled by three point shots the entire half. Ja Morant finished the first half with 18 points. Going into this game we all knew he was going to be a handful and he certainly was in the first half.

Stephen Curry had 12 points and Andrew Wiggins finished the half with ten. In the third quarter the Warriors had to limit those turnovers and do their best to contain Morant.

The Warriors started the third quarter with two steals and just like that had cut the Grizzlies lead to 59-56. Golden State came alive in the second half and the three’s starting dropping giving the Warriors a 71-66 lead. Midway through the third the game had totally flipped.

We saw a different defense from the Warriors in the third quarter and Memphis starting missing those long balls. As the quarter began to run out the two teams began trading the lead. The Warriors led after three quarters 90-87.

The Grizzlies led for much of the fourth quarter by the slimmest of margins. At 6:15 Memphis led 103-99. With both Curry and Klay Thompson on the sidelines this game was in jeopardy. With 4:39 left in this game the splash brothers came in to finish the game.

The hottest team in tne NBA would try to hold off the Warriors with 2:48 left on the clock. A missed three by Golden State and Ja Morant finished off the Warriors 116-108.

The Grizzlies took 100 shots in this game to the Warriors 80, not a winning formula The turnovers killed Golden State giving Memphis their tenth win in a row. The Warriors fought hard in the second half but it was the first half deficit that lost this game for Golden State. Points off turnovers were disastrous for the Warriors.

The Warriors will now head off to Milwaukee to take on the World Champs Thursday. The tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: After 941 days of waiting Big Splashy Return for Thompson

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Klay Thompson is seen here on Mon Jan 3, 2022 taking practice shots before the Golden State Warriors host the Miami Heat at the Chase Center. Thompson debuted in his first game back in two and half years on Sun Jan 9, 2022 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 Talk about Klay Thompson’s return?

#2 Kevon Looney had an exceptional defensive game that played a great part in this win.

#3 Stephen Curry sure got back on track after two loses in a row the most the team has suffered since the season started.

#4 What are Steve Kerr’s thoughts about the return of Thompson?

#5 The next game up for the Warriors will be against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night in Memphis. How do you see this game?

Join Barbara for the Warrior podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Grizzlies boat race Kings to 127-102 finish at Golden One Center; Memphis ends 3 game skid

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and center Steven Adams (4) are two on one against the Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (7) in the first quarter at the Golden One Center in Sacramento on Sun Dec 26, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings (13-21) were back in action on Sunday afternoon after the Christmas break. The Kings welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies (20-14) to town in what was hoped to be a solid matchup between the two teams from the west. Unfortunately for Kings fans, the Grizzlies boat raced the Kings at home 127-102 on Sunday afternoon.

In the first quarter, both teams got off to a slow start on the offensive end of the floor. The Kings slow start on offense wasn’t as dire of a situation as it could have been. The Grizzlies also struggled to get the ball in the basket early. The Kings managed to pick up the pace on offense towards the end of the quarter, scoring the Grizzlies 24-20.

Damian Jones gave the Kings the best minutes in the first quarter as he scored nine points. The Grizzlies were led in the first quarter by Desmond Bane, who scored nine points for the Grizzlies.

In the second quarter, both teams played relatively the same. The Grizzlies picked up their play on the offensive end and outscored the Kings 29-26. Neither team had a momentum surge in the first half. The Kings and Grizzlies went back in fourth.

The Kings would lead the game 50-49 going into halftime. Damian Jones had 11 first-half points, followed by Harrison Barnes with 10 points leading the way for the Kings on offense in the first half. The Grizzlies got their most significant contribution in the first half from Desmond Bane, who scored 15 points. It felt like whichever team went on a run in the third quarter would win the game.

In the third quarter, the Grizzlies went on a run. In the third quarter, the Kings defense fell apart as they allowed the Grizzlies to score 40 points. The Kings only managed to score 27 points during the barrage from the Grizzlies in the third quarter.

The Kings would fight back towards the end of the quarter to pull a bit closer, but they would still trail 89-77 going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, it was more of the same. The Kings defense continued to be atrocious as the Grizzlies scored 38 points. On the other hand, the Kings offense only managed to put up 25 points.

It was maybe the worst Kings loss of the season as the Kings core showed no heart down the stretch “This is the most disappointed I’ve been in my 34 years in the NBA” said Kings head coach Alvin Gentry.

As a result, the Kings lost the game by the final of 127-102. There wasn’t much to say after this loss for the Kings. They played without much heart and allowed the Grizzlies to run rough shot over them. The Kings would have to look to Tuesday to game back in the win column.

Up Next: The Kings will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at 7 PM PST.

Short Handed Warriors Beat Memphis 113-104; Curry scores 46 points

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The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) is floored after scoring a three pointer on a night the Warriors were shorthanded. Curry made up the difference scoring 46 points against Dillon Brooks (24) and the Memphis Grizzlies at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Short-Handed Warriors Beat Memphis 113-104; Curry scores 46 pts

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors(26-6) would really like a little revenge tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies (19-4) however they have their backs absolutely slammed against the wall. Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Damien Lee and Andre Iguodala will not be on the court tonight. The team is still awaiting the return of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman so this game against the Grizzlies will be a major challenge.

Memphis has been a real pain in the rear for Golden State. They knocked the Warriors out of the play-in tournament in a disappointing defeat last season. The Grizzlies beat the Warriors in their first loss of this season 104-101 in a very tight game.The Grizzlies are currently 19-13 while the Warriors are 25-6. Golden State is in second place in the Western Conference and the Grizzlies are holding down fourth place in the same division.

The Grizzlies came out with a vengeance leading after the first quarter 31-27. The Warriors remained just within striking distance but had failed to take the lead.

The Warriors remained competitive trailing by two points with just over three minutes left in the half. After Stephen Curry made a technical free throw, Nemanja Bjelica had a chance to take a one point lead just before the half but missed. The Grizzlies led by a single point 53-52 after two quarters. Despite being without some key players, the Warriors were playing a solid game. They came mentally prepared for this game and it really showed.

The Warriors took the lead early in the third quarter 55-53. This was the largest lead of the night for Golden State. The good news was the fact that the Warriors are a third and fourth quarter team. Mid-way through the quarter the Warriors began to extend their lead 73-66. Curry came unleashed even though Memphis was all over him shooting 5 of 8 from downtown. As the third quarter began to wind down the Warriors led 78-73 in a real head-knocker, The one thing that was certain was that you could not count Memphis out. The Grizzlies fought back and in the final seconds of the quarter trailed 84-83.

Curry was doing his best to take this game home but the Grizzlies just would not go away. Every time Memphis got within striking distance, Curry reminded them who was in charge on this court. Just when the Warriors looked to be on course for a win turnovers began to take a toll on the team. Three in a row would not win this game. They had a few minutes to clean this up.

In the final two minutes Golden State delivered the knockout punch. The Warriors took this game away as the clock ran out winning 113-104. Curry had another amazing performance finishing with 46 points and 8 of 14 from downtown.

Off the bench Gary Payton had a great game with 22 points. He was asked about the difficulty of guarding superstar Ja Morant. “I just tried to wear him down, make it tough for him,” said Payton after the game His offense and defense was off the charts and the hard work he has put in has really shown in his shooting especially from downtown. Curry’s night was amazing but he has a cast of great support and together they won this game.

So the Warriors despite being short-handed got their revenge in this win. They will have another challenge on Christmas Day against the Western Conference leaders, the Phoenix Suns. Tipoff is schedule for 2:00 PM.

Grizzlies clobber Kings 124-105; Sac has lost four of last five games

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) drives past the Sacramento Kings center Damian Jones (30) at Golden One Arena in Sacramento on Fri Dec 17, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Kings were back in action against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at home. The Kings last played on Wednesday when they took on the Washington Wizards.

The Kings handled the Wizards, defeating them 119-105. However, on Friday, the Kings were significantly short-handed. Kings head coach Alvin Gentry had tested positive for Covid earlier this week, and many staff members and players had to enter protocols as a result.

The players who missed Friday’s matchup were De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, and Alex Len. The short-handed Kings would try their best against the Grizzlies but ultimately fell 124-105.

In the first quarter, the Kings and Grizzlies both got off to a solid start on the offensive end. However, neither team’s defense looked outstanding as the shots fell for both teams. The Kings scored 31 points in the first quarter as the Grizzlies put up 29.

In the first quarter, the severely short-handed Kings got a much-needed lift from Harrison Barnes as he led the game with eight points. On the other hand, the Grizzlies got six points from De’Anthony Melton.

It was a very inconsistent quarter for the Kings in the second quarter. The Kings played great in the first half of the quarter. However, as the quarter came to a close, the Kings unraveled. The Kings built a 50-35 lead with 5:50 left in half, but it was short-lived.

The Kings lost the lead almost as quickly as they made it by the sloppy defense and unnecessary turnovers. The Kings had nine turnovers in the second quarter and 11 in the game, leading to 17 points so far. The Kings were outscored by the Grizzlies 29-25 in the second quarter.

The Kings were led by Harrison Barnes in the first half, who scored 15 points. Dillion Brooks led the way in the first half for the Grizzlies with 13 points. The Grizzlies took their 58-56 lead into the second half against the Kings. The Kings would need to clean up the messy play in the second half to have a chance at winning the game.

In the third quarter, the Kings meltdown continued. The Kings allowed the Grizzlies to score 33 points in the third quarter, but that wasn’t the biggest problem. The Kings offense only scored 19 points in the third. So, the Kings were left with a massive deficit heading into the final quarter 91-75.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings showed some heart but ultimately fell to the Grizzlies 124-105. The Grizzlies outscored the Kings 33-30 in the final quarter to finish off the blowout of the Kings. The Kings held their own in the first half but could not contain the duo of Jaren Jackson and Dillon Brooks, who had 21 and 23 points respectively.

The Kings were led in defeat by Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 21 points. It was a disappointing game for the Kings, who were also short-handed due to Covid.

Up Next: The Kings stay home to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at 3 PM PST at Golden One Center.