NBA Playoffs: Warriors Sink Grizzlies, Antetokounmpo Stars As Bucks Beat Celtics

2nd May 2022

Reserve guard Poole scored a playoff career high in 38 minutes off the bench, hitting 12-of-20 from the floor and 5-of-10 from 3-point range

Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors goes to the basket against Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 01, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO | AFP
Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors goes to the basket against Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 01, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO | AFP
SUMMARY
  • Jordan Poole had 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to power Golden State over Memphis 117-116 in an NBA playoff series opener Sunday
  • Klay Thompson sank the decisive 3-pointer with 36.6 seconds remaining and the Warriors denied Grizzlies playmaker Ja Morant twice in the final seconds
  • In Sunday’s Eastern Conference opener, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a triple double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists as the defending champion Bucks won 101-89 at Boston

Jordan Poole had 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to power Golden State over Memphis 117-116 in an NBA playoff series opener Sunday.

Klay Thompson sank the decisive 3-pointer with 36.6 seconds remaining and the Warriors denied Grizzlies playmaker Ja Morant twice in the final seconds.

The Western Conference second round best-of-seven matchup will continue Tuesday at Memphis.

In Sunday’s Eastern Conference opener, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a triple double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists as the defending champion Bucks won 101-89 at Boston.

At Memphis, Curry added 24 points for Golden State while Andrew Wiggins had 17 and Thompson 15.

Morant had 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and Jaren Jackson had 33 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.

The Warriors were delivered a major setback when forward Green, a star defender in Golden State’s title runs in 2015, 2017 and 2018, was ejected in the second quarter for a flagrant-2 foul, striking Brandon Clarke in the face and pulling him down by the jersey.

Reserve guard Poole scored a playoff career high in 38 minutes off the bench, hitting 12-of-20 from the floor and 5-of-10 from 3-point range.

Poole led the Warriors with 14 first-half points and added 10 in the third quarter as Golden State took a 91-90 lead.

Poole scored seven points in a 12-3 run to open the fourth and give the Warriors a 103-93 lead before the Grizzlies battled back.

Thompson missed two late free throws and Memphis had a final shot but Morant missed a driving layup at the buzzer.

At Boston, Antetokounmpo scored or assisted on 55 of 87 Milwaukee points made when he was on the court against the NBA’s top defenders.

Antetokounmpo made three turnovers in the first five minutes as Boston used multiple defenders to guard the Greek giant.

But from there, Antetokounmpo was able to lift the Bucks despite Milwaukee playing without forward Khris Middleton due to a sprained left knee ligament.

Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday scored a game-high 25 points with 10 rebounds while Bobby Portis added 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Bucks kept it intense and physical.

The Celtics shot a woeful 28-of-84 from the floor (33.3%) and made only 10 baskets inside the 3-point arc while attempting a team playoff record 50 3-point shots.

Udoka was unhappy about the Bucks scoring 27 points off 18 Celtics turnovers and said Boston’s inability to score inside was “alarming.”

Boston’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart suffered a right shoulder injury and thigh bruises in the second quarter.