Golden State is on the road to the Western Conference Finals, three years later. But the Warriors almost fell into the ditch on Monday night in their Chase Center against the overexcited Memphis Grizzlies. After having struggled throughout the game, they ended up getting out of it in the last moments (101-98).
Thanks to this success, Stephen Curry (32 pts) and the Californians take a clear advantage in the series, three wins to one in the series. The Warriors have the opportunity to complete this Conference semi-final on Wednesday evening in Game 5 in Memphis.
Was it the absence of the essential leader of Memphis, which promised an unbalanced match? Or that of their trainer Steve Kerr, who tested positive for Covid a few hours earlier and replaced by his assistant Mike Brown? Two days after his Game 3 card (142-112), Golden State was unrecognizable, out of address like his arrows Stephen Curry, who multiplied the bad choices, and Klay Thompson (0/7 behind the bow). Only Otto Porter Jr. had managed to set the sights.
The Warriors go ahead for the first time with 45 seconds remaining
The Grizzlies (still without their Frenchman Killian Tillie, injured, and Yves Pons, not retained) evolved with the energy of despair, like Tyus Jones (19 pts, 6 rebounds). When Desmond Bane scored a three-point shot from a dozen meters on the siren in the third quarter (62-69), disbelief won the spans.
Memphis has further widened the gap, counting up to 12 points ahead ten minutes from time (64-76). But that’s when Curry pulled out his playoffs chef’s hat. The 2015 and 2016 MVP regained his shot, allowing his team to take the lead for the first time of the evening with 45 seconds remaining (94-93). He finished the job at the free throw line, converting 8 straight in the last minute to finish with 32 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.
