Steven Adams has remained sidelined in the NBA’s Covid-19 protocols as a Ja Morant masterclass has helped the Memphis Grizzlies lock up their playoff series with the Golden State Warriors.
Thanks to Morant’s 47 points, the second-round playoff series is locked up at one each following game two on Wednesday (NZ time) that the Grizzlies won 106-101.
Memphis was forced to overcome the loss of Dillon Brooks in just the third minute after he was ejected for an ugly challenge on Golden State’s Gary Payton II.
Brandon Dill/AP
Memphis guard Ja Morant scored a game-high 47 points to lead the Grizzlies to victory in game two.
Brooks clouted Payton II from behind and his game ended when he was called for a flagrant-two foul – the second of the series after Golden State’s Draymond Green suffered the same fate in game one.
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Payton II left the court and was unable to return. He was sent for scans on an elbow injury and it’s being reported he has a fractured left elbow.
In a fiery first quarter, Green also hit the deck and suffered a cut over his eye.
Brandon Dill/AP
Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) fouls Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) in a play that ended both players night.
He was able to return but flipped the bird to the Memphis crowd as he headed to the locker room.
When things eventually settled down some basketball was played and the two sides went at it in a tight tussle where neither team was able to break away to a significant lead.
The Grizzlies eight-point lead at the first break was one of the biggest of the match at 33-25. By half-time, Memphis held a 56-51 lead and at three-quarter time the scores were locked at 77-77.
Golden State, who kicked off the series with a 117-116 win on the road on Monday (NZ time), trailed by just one point, 100-99, with 90 seconds to play.
Morant made two free throws from the line to take the score to 102-99.
William Booth/AP
It remains unclear if Steven Adams will return for game three of the series.
Green hit back with a layup to reduce the gap to one with 40 seconds left but the Morant show had an encore with a nine-footer and then another pair of clutch shots from the line to extend the lead to five at 106-101.
Stephen Curry missed a long-range three with 10 seconds remaining to ensure victory for Memphis.
Morant also bagged eight assists and the same number of rebounds.
Curry top-scored for Golden State with 27 points.
Game three is on Sunday (NZ time).
