I’m going to be honest here: I did not anticipate the Memphis Grizzlies giving the San Antonio Spurs any sort of trouble. San Antonio has an incredible defense and a pretty good offense led by a top-10 scorer. Memphis has a real good defense and a completely mediocre offense. If something’s going to give, it’s going to be the Memphis defense, not that of the Spurs.
The Grizzlies and Spurs gave us a show for the ages
Good morning. We have that and more in Sunday’s NBA newsletter.
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Unless Mike Conley decides no Spur can hang with him, which is what Conley figured out in Games 3 and 4 in the Grindhouse. Conley finished Saturday’s series-tying Memphis win with 35 points and eight assists. The Spurs put Kawhi Leonard on him, and Conley still found ways to hurt San Antonio. He’s just so good.
As was the game. Kawhi (43 points) and Conley traded baskets late, and Marc Gasol scored the game-winning runner with seconds left in overtime. We’re all tied up going back to Texas.
Playoff Scores ...
Raptors 87, Bucks 76 (Series tied 2-2)
Wizards 98, Hawks 116 (WAS leads 2-1)
Spurs 108, Grizzlies 110 (Series tied 2-2)
Warriors 119, Blazers 113 (GSW leads 3-0)
... And Links Galore
Sunday Shootaround is sticking around for the NBA playoffs -- praise be to Paul Flannery -- and this week the focus is Bulls vs. Celtics, the series where nothing makes sense. Flanns also has his five playoff heroes, and the best numbers and quotes of the week. Check it out.
Before Marc Gasol’s game-winner, there was Andrew Harrison’s season-saving chasedown block.
The Warriors spotted the Blazers a big first-half lead without Kevin Durant or Steve Kerr (more on him shortly), and then ripped out Portland’s heart late. So much for Blazers in six.
Kerr missed the game due to illness. Marcus Thompson reports that Kerr is in such bad shape that he isn’t expected back this series. He’s been in excruciating pain and at times been unable to walk. This is not good.
The Bucks had a perfectly good opportunity to put their series against Toronto in vice grips in a Saturday slugfest. Instead, Toronto’s stars came through. Milwaukee fans chanted “Bucks in six!” in the dying moments of Game 4, though, so not all was lost.
The Hawks came hard from the jump to put the Wizards away early. John Wall was awesome (I mean, GOOD LORD), but Atlanta had an edge we don’t typically see.
Sunday’s schedule:
Cavaliers at Pacers, 1 p.m. ET, ABC (CLE leads 3-0)
Rockets at Thunder, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (HOU leads 2-1)
Celtics at Bulls, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT (CHI leads 2-1)
Clippers at Jazz, 9 p.m. ET, TNT (LAC leads 2-1)
Blake Griffin will miss the rest of the postseason with a toe injury. It’s just the latest chapter in the Clippers’ cursed history.
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