NBA Playoffs Update: Meltdown in Minneapolis, Dallas Takes Control in Utah, Jokić’s Big Night Not Enough, More

Let’s rundown the motion from Thursday night time’s slate of NBA Playoffs motion.

Grizzlies 104, Timberwolves 95

Sequence: MEM leads 2-1

Minnesota took it to Memphis for many of this one, however the Grizzlies have been simply an excessive amount of ultimately. The Timberwolves have been even forward by 26 factors late within the third quarter, however they might see that lead dissolve in an epic collapse in Sport 3.

Fueled by a 21-0 run within the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies wiped away Minnesota’s 26-point lead.

Ja Morant, who had simply 5 factors on 2-9 taking pictures at concerning the four-minute mark within the third quarter, completed the sport with a triple-double, logging 16 factors, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists within the Memphis victory. Desmond Bane scored 26 factors and knocked down seven three-pointers for the Grizzlies, and Memphis ahead Brandon Clarke added 20 factors and eight boards. Morant’s triple-double is the primary in Grizzlies playoff historical past.

Karl-Anthony Cities completed the sport with simply eight factors and 5 rebounds in 33 minutes of motion however was in foul bother all night time. KAT room simply 4 photographs on Thursday night time, the bottom shot complete of his profession.

Charles Barkley known as Minnesota’s epic collapse “embarrassing for basketball” on the TNT postgame present:

Memphis now leads the Timberwolves 2-1 within the sequence, and I’m unsure how Minnesota can come again from final night time’s epic meltdown.

Mavericks 126, Jazz 118

Sequence: DAL leads 2-1

Regardless of being seen placing up photographs earlier than Sport 3, the Mavericks have been nonetheless with out Luka Dončić, who’s battling a left calf pressure. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd stated that Dončić pushed himself arduous in pregame exercises and felt able to go, however Dallas performed it secure and gave him one other night time off.

The Jazz didn’t make the most of Dončić’s absence on Thursday night time, doubtlessly a deadly mistake for them on this sequence with Dončić prone to return for Sport 4 on Saturday.

Jalen Brunson stepped up in Dončić’s absence once more tonight, scoring 31 factors on 12-22 taking pictures and including 5 assists within the Mavs’ Sport 2 victory over the Jazz, their first win in Utah since April 11, 2016. Spencer Dinwiddie was everywhere in the stat sheet, logging 20 factors, 5 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Jason Kidd complimented his team’s ability to resist a giant run by Utah within the third quarter that ended up being the distinction within the recreation:

“Within the third, [the Jazz] got here out, they usually hit us. It might have been straightforward for us to surrender the lead and say ‘Hey, we come again Saturday, ‘; however these guys fought and actually believed that they might put themselves able to win.”

Jalen Brunson did depart the sport briefly with a again damage after taking a tough foul within the paint however returned and will likely be evaluated. Taking a 2-1 lead with an enormous street victory in Utah was large for Dallas, who will probably get Luke Dončić again this weekend.

Warriors 118, Nuggets 113

Sequence: GSW leads 3-0

Nikola Jokić was tossed from Sport 2 after Draymond Inexperienced terrorized him defensively all night time, inflicting the Denver massive man to lose his cool because the Nuggets went down 0-2 to Golden State within the sequence. The Joker needed to be a lot better in Sport 3 if Denver had a fighter’s likelihood at beating the Warriors, and he was simply that, scoring 37 factors whereas flattening 18 boards. After the sport, Draymond Inexperienced made no bones about Jokić dominating him all night time and stated that he “was horrible all night time.”

Nonetheless, Draymond received the final snigger after he got here up with a big-time steal on Jokić late within the recreation that helped the Warriors take the lead and finally win. Inexperienced stated that “when the cash is on the road, I don’t like when folks go at me for all of the marbles.”

Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole every scored 27 factors, and Klay Thompson completed proper behind them with 26 factors on six triples. Thompson handed Ray Allen for third all-time in playoff three-pointers made on Thursday night time.

Golden State is now up 3-0 within the sequence and has the Nuggets going through elimination in Sport 4 on Sunday in Denver.