The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies will play at 3:30 p.m. EST. It could go down as one of the team’s most important regular-season games.
The game will send the winner to the No. 7 vs No. 8 play-in game while the loser will take on the San Antonio Spurs in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game. The team that wins will be facing up against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Head coach Steve Kerr said the Golden State Warriors are preparing for their regular-season finale against the Grizzlies like it’s a “playoff game,” knowing their imminent future becomes much easier with a win.
With the last regular-season games commencing in a few hours, the Golden State Warriors will have a meaningful battle with the Memphis Grizzlies.
"“We’re really looking at this [as] we’ve got to win two out of our next three games. So basically that starts tomorrow; so, in effect, tomorrow is a playoff game. And we’ve got to win two before we lose two. That’s what it comes down to out of the next three. Like a little miniseries from the old days in the early ’80s,'” Steve Kerr said via ESPN’s Nick Friedell."
This game will have huge consequences for the Warriors.
While taking on and defeating the Lakers is no easy feat, having the potential to be locked into the playoffs after just one game sounds much more ideal, especially considering the actual playoffs start on May 22.
Golden State is currently sitting at 38-33. The Grizzlies, who have overperformed the past few months, are also at 38-33, so this, in some ways, is a playoff game before the actual tournament begins.
Stephen Curry will be the best player on the court, and he’ll have a chance to officially wrap up his second scoring title following the event. Curry has it all but locked up, currently averaging 31.8 points per game.
Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are also both playing at a high level. Even players like Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder have stepped up in a big way as of late. While Curry’s led the way, this team has had a myriad of scoring options step up to bat.
The Warriors will have their hands full as they’ll likely put Kent Bazemore on Ja Morant.
Dillon Brooks is also playing good basketball, and he’ll be tough to stop. Morant will be the key, but without Kelly Oubre Jr., it could be tough to slow either down. Morant is averaging almost 16 points per game over his last 15.
This will be a home game with fans for the Warriors, so hopefully, they can gain some energy from that. Regardless, they’ll have to bring the energy as finding a way to down the Grizzlies will be pivotal.