TENNESSEE – Golden State Warriors pulled off a 117-116 escape over Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the 2021-2022 NBA Western Conference semifinals on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Klay Thompson drilled a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to surge the Warriors ahead 117-116 but he missed on two crucial free throw that could have extended the lead with six ticks remaining.
Off a timeout, the Grizzlies had an opportunity to snatch the victory but Ja Morant missed a layup attempt at the buzzer after being tightly defended by the Warriors.
Thompson finished the match with 15 points, including a poor 3-of-10 outside shooting, to go with three assists and two steals as the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 31 points, including five triples, Stephen Curry chipped in 24 markers while Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
Morant had a near triple-double numbers of 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in double-double 33 points and 10 boards for the Grizzlies.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks overcame a slow start to defeat Boston Celtics, 101-89, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series at the TD Garden in Boston.
The Celtics were ahead by as many as eight in the first half before the Bucks scored the last 10 points of the first quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored the last six of the half to give the Bucks a 56-46 lead at the break.
Boston was within seven in the final minute of the third quarter before going without a bucket for more than four minutes while the Bucks scored 11 of the next 14 points for a 94-78 lead.
Jrue Holiday led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Antetokounmpo had triple-double 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and Bobby Portis had 15 points and 11 boards for the Bucks.
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 117 — Poole 31, Curry 24, Wiggins 17, Thompson 15, Payton 8, Looney 8, Green 6, Kuminga 6, Porter 2, Lee 0, Toscano-Anderson 0.
MEMPHIS 116 — Morant 34, Jackson 33, Melton 14, Clarke 12, Bane 9, Brooks 8, Tillman 2, Anderson 2, Jones 2, Konchar 0.
Quarterscores: 24-32, 55-61, 91-90, 117-116./PN
