As the Golden State Warriors amassed the second-most points in a playoff game in franchise history, all the post-game discussion should have surrounded their explosive offensive performance and conversely, the Memphis Grizzlies’ meek defensive display.
Instead, social media alit with a vigorous debate on a late-game incident between Ja Morant and Jordan Poole, which was brought to attention by Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins during his post-game press conference.
The Golden State Warriors’ win was the forgotten story of Game 3 with a late-game incident between Poole and Morant taking center stage.
Jenkins was asked about Morant’s knee injury post-game, to which he responded with comments that would prove incredibly controversial.
"“He was going after a dribble and Jordan Poole actually grabbed his knee and yanked it, which kind of triggered whatever happened, so I am actually going to be very curious to see what happens after that.”"
Warrior players were quick to defend their rising star, with veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson quick to pour cold water on any narrative Jenkins had tried to push.
"…it’s not a joking matter that Ja’s hurt but all the rest of it is just total BS in terms of the conversation right now, Curry said."
There’s undoubtedly contact between Poole’s hand and Morant’s knee, but most would regard it as an incidental basketball play that appeared too minimal to cause major injury anyway. Still, what would the everyday fan know? So, even doctors chimed in to give their two cents, with the results still wildly polarising.
If that "pull" was enough force to sprain a ligament then I've been giving every patient I examine an MCL sprain when I stress their knee to perform an exam
— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) May 8, 2022
Sorry Grizzlies fans-even if that play was when Ja got hurt (which is questionable) there was nothing dirty about it https://t.co/3odPnKy9VN
As if things couldn’t get more controversial, Morant himself tweeted shortly after the game with a photo of the play along with the caption, “broke the code”. That was clearly in reference to Warrior coach Steve Kerr’s comments after Dillon Brooks’ flagrant two foul that saw him suspended for game three and left Warriors guard Gary Payton II with a fractured left elbow. Morant deleted the tweet shortly after.
The whole fiasco continues a chippy series producing new storylines by the game. Memphis’ Kyle Anderson became the third player in as many games to be ejected, joining Green from game one and Brooks in game two.
Unfortunately, the angst between the two teams appears to have spilled over to each of the fanbases on social media. Still, Warrior fans have the upper hand for the moment as their team holds a 2-1 lead before game four back at Chase Center on Monday.