The NBA announced on Thursday (5/5) that it was suspending Dillon Brooks for the flagarant 2 foul against Gary Payton II that resulted in Payton's fractured elbow. The injury will likely keep GPII out for the rest of the Grizzlies/Warriors playoff series.
The rhetoric that it was "dirty" was led by Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr immediately after Game 2. Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins came back Thursday (5/5) to express his opinion that his Grizzlies team plays hard, but isn't about to take on the "dirty" label.
Meanwhile the Memphis Grizzlies got back Steven Adams after he sat out Games #1 and #2 due to NBA "Health and Safety Protocols".
Desmond Bane's back and condition continues to be of concern, but the extended break between games #2 and #3 should be helpful there.
Thursday there were several interviews that addressed Game #3 and the NBA Playoffs on 92.9 FM ESPN:
Listen to Game #3 and the Memphis Grizzlies on their Flagship Radio Home, 92.9 FM ESPN
GAME NOTES:
Bear Necessities
· With their Western Conference Semifinals series tied 1-1, the Memphis Grizzlies travel to the Bay Area for Games 3 and 4 against the Golden State Warriors… Memphis has advanced to the conference semis for the fourth time in franchise history and first time since 2015 (when the Grizzlies also played the Warriors).
· Ja Morant scored 47 points to go with eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals to help guide Memphis to a 106-101 victory in Game 2 at FedExForum… Morant scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and all of the Grizzlies’ final 15 points in the last 4:16 of the game as Memphis outscored Golden State 15-6 in that span.
· With his 47 points, Morant matched his own playoff franchise scoring record, which he initially set in the first round last year (May 26, 2021 at Utah)… According to ESPN Stats & Info, Morant has joined LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players in NBA history with multiple 45-point performances in the playoffs before turning 23 years old.
· Brandon Clarke’s 10-game streak scoring in double digits, dating back to the regular season and including the first eight games of the postseason, is the longest of his career (including regular season and playoff games).
· Ziaire Williams, who was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft following his freshman year at Stanford, scored 14 points off the bench in Game 2… That tied the franchise record (Greivis Vazquez in 2011) for points by a rookie in a playoff game.
Connections
Warriors center James Wiseman played collegiately at the University of Memphis.Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr., forward/center Xavier Tillman Sr. and Warriors forward Draymond Green played collegiately at Michigan State.Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson and Warriors center Kevon Looney both played at UCLA.Grizzlies guard/forward Dillon Brooks, forward Brandon Clarke and Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins are from Canada… Wiggins teamed with Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Grizzlies assistant coach Darko Rajaković and Warriors forward Nemanja Bjelica are both from Serbia.Grizzlies radio play-by-play Eric Hasseltine is a native of Walnut Creek, Calif., and graduated from UC-Davis.Grizzlies wing Ziaire Williams, guard Tyrell Terry and Grizzlies TV analyst Brevin Knight played at Stanford.