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Steph Curry hit 500 career playoff points on Monday, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 101-98 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies and a one-game lead in the Western Conference finals.
With 45.7 seconds remaining, the out-of-sorts Warriors pulled away from the Grizzlies, gaining their first lead of the game and establishing a 3-1 series lead.
Curry scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 90 with 3:25 remaining, and then hit eight consecutive critical free throws in the last minute to put his team ahead.
Curry told reporters after the game, “Nothing we figured out, it was just don’t allow the first three quarters to affect the fact that we still had a chance to win the game.” “Shoot the shots you believe you can make, play aggressively, and keep the ball in your possession.” All of this was accomplished by us. ”
Coach Steve Kerr, who tested positive for COVID-19 two hours before tip-off and was unable to take his position on the bench, made the task even more difficult for Golden State. Mike Brown, who will take over as head coach of the Sacramento Kings next season and previously led the Warriors to an 11-0 record during their 2017 championship run when Kerr was unavailable, was named to fill his seat.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson stated, “I believe his head coaching record for a Warrior playoff game is unblemished.” “We missed Steve a lot, simply his voice and presence, but we’ve been here before, in 2017 when Mike took over and we had a lot of wins, so I pondered that a lot.”
Neither team was able to break away due to poor shooting, as neither shot 42 percent from the field or 26 percent from beyond the arc.
Until Otto Porter Jr. hit a three with 3:24 left in the second quarter, the Warriors were 0-15 from three-point range. Thompson scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds despite missing all seven of his three-point attempts.
The Warriors’ offense was shut down by the Grizzlies’ defense, which was led by Jaren Jackson Jr., who blocked five shots and had two steals.
In the absence of star point guard Ja Morant, who sustained a right knee injury in Saturday’s Game 3 loss, Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 21 points. Tyrus Jones rounded out the scoring with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
It’ll be difficult. It’s a bitter pill. We seemed to be in complete command of the situation. ” After the game, Jones addressed the press. “We appeared to be in good shape. “We seemed to be in a terrific position to win a game, but things didn’t go our way down the stretch.”
The fifth game will take place in Memphis on Wednesday.
In the Eastern Conference, Al Horford set a postseason career high with 30 points, leading the Boston Celtics to a 116-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, tying their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Horford said to the media after the game, “I normally just kind of go about my thing.” “I get enthusiastic, but I believe you have to choose your settings and moments. This was a game full with emotions.”
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