NBA highlights on May 21: Grizzlies to meet Utah Jazz in playoffs

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Ja Morant (L) and Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrate in the NBA play-in tournament game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, U.S., May 21, 2021. /CFP

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 117-112 in overtime (OT) in the last NBA play-in game at Chase Center on Friday, earning the last playoff qualification in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies will challenge the Utah Jazz from Game 1 on Sunday.

Second-year point guard Ja Morant dropped 35 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals and he scored the last four points for the Grizzlies in OT.

Ja Morant (#12) of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots in the NBA play-in tournament game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, May 21, 2021. /CFP

"I love pressure, honestly," said the 21-year-old in the post-game interview. "I feel like my game rises to another level." Morant's improper choice of timing to launch attack at the end of the fourth quarter almost cost his team the game, but the youngster made amends for his faults by good deeds.

"He rose to the occasion. He's built for these moments. I'm glad that he played to that level that we expect and he expects of himself," said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.

The Warriors knew Morant would become a problem with his athleticism and court vision. Their countermeasure was to have the defender leave one step back from Morant at the 3-point line to test his shooting. Unfortunately, Morant made excellent response going 5-10 in triples.

Dillon Brooks (R) of the Memphis Grizzlies defends Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA play-in tournament game at Chase Center, May 21, 2021. /CFP

Grayson Allen was the other Grizzly that blew the Warriors away from downtown going 4-5 there. The 25-year-old was 4-5 in triples and delivered four steals.

Of course, other tactics of the Warriors worked well. For example, they threw Jonas Valanciunas into foul trap. The Lithuanian giant only played 25 minutes in the game before he was fouled out and he scored nine points and 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass during that 25 minutes. Imagine what would happen if he had stayed on the floor a bit longer.

Moreover, despite the escorting defense by Dillon Brooks, Stephen Curry still put down 39 points, four rebounds and five assists. Perhaps going 6-15 from the arc does not look pretty, but the other eight Warriors together only made six triples.

Stephen Curry (#30) of the Golden State Warriors is surrounded by four players of the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA play-in tournament game at Chase Center, May 21, 2021. /CFP

Andrew Wiggins had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. He even delivered two blocks. Draymond Green had a triple-double of 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Jordan Poole became the Warriors' most reliable 3-point shooter burying three of five attempts.

The Warriors could have won the game if they had not committed 21 turnovers, 13 of which were steals by the Grizzlies. "We would've loved to have gotten into the playoffs and make a run," said coach Steve Kerr. "We were a really good team over the final 20 games. ... To put a stretch like that over a quarter of a season, that's not a fluke."

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the NBA play-in tournament game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center, May 21, 2021. /CFP

Despite the two losses in the play-in tournament, Kerr still called the season "absolutely a success" for the Warriors.

Brooks said they are ready for the Jazz. Morant said they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. The question is, do they have what it takes to cause enough trouble in front of the league's No. 1 team?