By Adrian Stewart Co
Stephen Curry caught fire anew to carry Golden State Warriors (GSW) past Memphis Grizzlies, 113-101, in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Sunday (Monday in the Philippines) at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
Curry drilled nine triples as he finished with 46 points to lead the shorthanded Warriors. The two-time NBA MVP also had nine assists and seven rebounds.
Andrew Wiggins had double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds, Jordan Poole contributed 15 markers, while Draymond Green nearly triple-doubled with his 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
With the win, the Warriors finished the eliminations at eighth place in the Western Conference with 39-33 slate and will battle the no. 7 ranked squad in the play-in tournament for a playoffs spot.
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, fell to no. 9 spot with 38-34 and will face no. 10 team San Antonio Spurs in a do-or-die game with the winner battling in another do-or-die game for the last playoffs seat.
Holding to a slim 55-49 lead at the half, the Warriors broke away in the third quarter behind outside conversions from Curry and Poole as the lead grew to 86-69.
The Grizzlies fought back and took a 97-95 lead but the Warriors dropped 14 unanswered points, including three straight triples from Curry, to build a 109-99 advantage.
Jonas Valanciunas had double-double 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant chipped in 18 and 16 markers, respectively, for the Grizzlies.
Washington Wizards (34-38), for its part, climb to no. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference after a come-from-behind 115-110 victory over Charlotte Hornets (33-39).
With that, the Wizards will face no. 7 Boston Celtics while the no. 10 Hornets will battle no. 9 Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament for the last two playoffs spot in the East.
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 113 – Curry 46, Wiggins 21, Poole 15, Green 14, Toscano-Anderson 9, Looney 6, Bazemore 2, Mulder 0.
MEMPHIS 101 – Valanciunas 29, Brooks 18, Morant 16, Jackson 14, Anderson 10, Bane 8, Melton 4, Clarke 2, Jones 0, Tillman 0.
Quarterscores: 30-29, 55-49, 86-69, 113-101./ASC, WDJ