In the NBA’s Western Conference portion of the Playoffs, the Warriors haven taken a 1-0 series lead over the Grizzlies and are looking for more in Memphis Tuesday night. In Game 1 of the series, Golden State was able to clinch a narrow victory over Memphis on the road, 117-116. Following an ejection from spark plug All-Star power forward Draymond Green, the Warriors were able to keep it together and hold off the Grizzlies. Thanks to a fantastic night from shooting guard Jordan Poole (31 points), Golden State was able to tame Ja Morant (game-high 34 points) and Memphis.
For Game 2, SBS has your back with a breakdown of each team, what to look for and who will come away with the victory at the FedExForum.
| NBA Playoffs Picks Western Semifinals Game Two | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzlies vs. Warriors | Grizzlies ML | +108 | +108 | +108 |
As stated above, Morant was the star of the show for the Grizzlies in Game 1 and has been leading the way for them all season long. The Murray State product is coming off his first All-Star season in 2022 and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player as well. A tenacious scorer, Morant averaged 27.4 points per game during the regular season and also shot an astounding percentage from the field (.493). Not only did he lead Memphis in scoring in Game 1, but he also led his squad in assists as well with 10.
Some other players to look out for from the Grizzlies include power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (33 points in Game 1) and shooting guard Desmond Bane (18.4 points per game in 2022). The champions of the Southwest Division in the NBA during the regular season, Memphis went 2-2 this season against the Warriors. However, the two wins did occur at home with the last victory occurring in late March, a 123-95 Grizzlies romp. In that contest, Bane scored a team-high 22 points and Memphis was boosted by the performances of gritty center Steven Adams (nine rebounds) and point guard Tyus Jones (six assists, no turnovers). The Grizzlies have certainly shown they can handle the revamped Warriors, they just need to get back to this formula at home.
In Game 1 of the series, the Warriors were able to do what they do best – play fantastic team basketball. With shooting guard Poole coming into his own along with his All-World counterpart Steph Curry (a two-time MVP) offering some fire support, Golden State was able to get by the plucky Grizz. In the first game of the series, Curry notched 24 points while Poole (+10 during the game) came off the bench, which is a reversal of what the team has been utilizing this season. Though Green was ejected during the contest, the Warriors were still able to come up clutch when they needed to, thanks to a lot of veteran championship pedigree.
In addition to Poole and Curry, Golden State also has the services of All-Star guard Klay Thompson to rely on. Thompson was relatively quiet in Game 1, atleast to his standards, as he only scored 15 points. However, given his championship merit and guile, the Warriors will have the huge edge in experience over the upstart Grizzlies. Though Memphis does maintain some advantages like when it comes to slashing towards the hoop, Golden State still features some of the sweetest shooting in the NBA when the team gets hot.
Prediction: Another close battle should be on tap when the Grizzlies face the Warriors on Tuesday night. However, the result will be different this time as Memphis should be able to win straight up against Golden State.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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