NEWSLETTER
Things got chippy in Grind City as the Grizzlies fought desperately for a victory with the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Celtics shot the lights out in bean town to even their series up with the Bucks.
Celtics 109, Bucks 86
Series: TIED 1-1
The difference in the Boston Celtics’ offense from Game 1 to Game 2 was night and day. The Bucks held the Celtics to just 89 points on 34 percent shooting on Sunday afternoon after Boston averaged 113.5 points and shot 49 percent in four games with Brooklyn. Boston was back to those norms from the Brooklyn series on Tuesday night, scoring 109 points while shooting 48 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range, and 87 percent from the charity stripe.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 points on 50 percent shooting from both areas on the floor, hitting clutch shots whenever Boston needed them.
JT at the 🚨 pic.twitter.com/en02w68CvE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 4, 2022
Jaylen Brown had a much better game too, dropping 30 points, 5 boards, and 6 assists on 11-18 (6-10) shooting as Boston evened things up. Grant Williams also gave the Celtics a strong effort off the bench with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists while sinking six-of-nine triples in just 21 minutes of action.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and added 9 rebounds and 7 assists to lead all Milwaukee scorers in the losing effort. Jrue Holiday scored 19 points, but he was dismal from range, shooting just 1-6 from three-point range.
The series now shifts to Milwaukee, with the defending champs looking to regain control.
Grizzlies 106, Warriors 101
Series: TIED 1-1
Memphis dropped a winnable game to the Warriors on their home floor to open things up on Sunday. They came into last night’s contest desperately needing a win with the series heading to The Bay after Game 2. And Memphis certainly played like it.
So Things Got Really Chippy in Last Night's Warriors-Grizzlies Gamehttps://t.co/ki7lRd9GMH pic.twitter.com/Cm0B9pTey9
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 4, 2022
Dillon Brooks delivered a hit to Gary Payton II that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after the game “broke the code.” If that’s the code, someone should give Grayson Allen a call and remind him! It was revealed after the game that Payton II suffered a fractured elbow from the first quarter hit, and the Warriors rightfully took exception to the matter for the rest of the game.
It wasn’t done there. Minutes later, Draymond Green took an elbow to the face from Xavier Tillman and had to leave to the locker room to get stitches. Green would return later in the game with a stitched-up and swollen face.
I’m sure the NBA will have something to say about Brooks’s hit on GPII and Draymond’s special message to the Memphis fans. Golden State lost this one 106-101 as the Grizzlies evened things up with the Warriors last night on the strength of 47 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists for Ja Morant. The young Grizzlies star had some words for Stephen Curry after the game was over, and while I don’t know exactly what he said, it didn’t look friendly, and it’ll surely be something that Curry remembers when things resume tomorrow night.
Curry logged 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists for the Warriors in the losing effort. Draymond Green scored 16 points and logged 9 rebounds even with the stitches, while Jordan Poole had another strong showing off the bench with 20 points.
