Tyus Jones made a huge 3-pointer to give the Grizzles a 106-102 lead. (0:20)
The first-round series was highlighted by dramatic comebacks, poster dunks, foul trouble, and a healthy serving of trash talk, as Memphis eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106 in Game 6 on Friday night.
The Golden State Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzles in the first game of the conference semifinals on Sunday.
Memphis point guard Ja Morant said that the series was a battle. We knew we wouldn't win this series in one game. We knew that every game would be a dogfight and that we had to come in locked in. The wins were pretty ugly, but we got it done.
For the third time in the series, Memphis overcame a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. A pall fell over the long-suffering crowd at Target Center, which just witnessed one of the most historic collapses in NBA history, when the Memphis Grizzlies took the lead in the closing minutes.
Morant said that they were always confident no matter what the score was.
In the first three quarters, the Grizzlies fell behind, only to use timely shot-making and defensive stops, as well as overwhelming the Timberwolves on the offensive glass to roar back.
"I wish we had better starts, but we always find a way to fight." said the forward. There are a lot of ways to win in the NBA playoffs, and we just figured out one way.
The most lethal sharpshooter in the series hit a 3-pointer with three minutes remaining to give Memphis its first lead of the second half. Morant unleashed one his patented acrobatic layups soon after, then Twin Cities native Tyus Jones drained a crucial 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer with 1:09 left in the game, which pushed the Memphis lead to four, one Memphis would never relinquish.
The best fourth-quarter differential in NBA history can be found in the series between the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves. In the first round of the playoffs, Memphis became the first team to overcome double-digit deficits entering the fourth quarter and win three times.
Morant said that they have been down double-digits plenty of times and come back and win.
A number of young stars, including Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., were showcased in the series. Each had moments of joy and struggles.
The most consistent body of work was put together by Edwards. Towns was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 Jackson was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 He had 16 blocked shots in six games and was the leader in defensive rating for the series.
Morant commanded the most attention. During the regular season, Morant averaged 27.4 points per game and led the NBA in points in the paint. He was held in check for much of Game 6 as he was in the series, despite his late heroics in Game 5. Morant was the floor general for the fourth-quarter comeback as he finished with 17 points. He had 11 assists.
The formula for success in Game 6 was the same as it was throughout the series: creative playmaking by Morant, outside shooting from Bane and activity around the basket from Brandon Clarke.
The series established him as one of the NBA's best young shooting guards. The final pick in the first round of the 2020 draft, Bane was the leader in the series with 23.6 points per game on a sizzling true shooting percentage of 66.6 and 46.8% from beyond the 3-point line.
Morant said that the most important person in the series was this guy right here. He hit some big-time shots for us, even kept us in the game, and gave us a lead.
The NBA's most seasoned squad, which has won three titles with its current core, and one of the NBA's youngest teams, which arrived into the league ahead of schedule, are competing in the conference semifinals.
After the game, Morant was exhausted and placed his head down on the podium between testimonials about his teammates. Morant said to go to sleep after being asked how the team would prepare for the Warriors.
Morant expanded on his plans after some teasing.
Go to sleep, wake up in the morning, travel, and then lock in for the game.
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