Facing a full Boston team, Memphis fought to the end but never worried his opponent. However, they keep their fate in their hands and will have to win in their last game on Thursday to validate their “play-in” ticket in order to obtain 8th place in the Western Conference.
Jayson Tatum does no quarter
The game begins on an ultra-defensive basis with the two teams scoring just 13 points each in eight minutes of play. If Boston finds the key, Memphis flounders. With the exception of Ja Morant, author of seven points in the first quarter, the Grizzlies are only 25% successful on shots, including 0 of 6 from afar, and see Boston take control of operations (24 -17).
Eight points in a row from Jayson Tatum to open the second period launched an 11-0 Celtics and forced Taylor Jenkins to sound the alarm (35-17)! Boston takes a 22-point lead before Ja Morant manages to limit the damage. Supported by Brandon Clarke (15 points) and Dillon Brooks (14 points), the Grizzlies came back to -13, but a foul on Kemba Walker (19 points) at 3 points in the last second of the half allowed Boston to keep Memphis above 15 lengths (56-40).
Ja Morant’s efforts not rewarded
If Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) start the third quarter with skill, the Grizzlies continue to catch up thanks to the future rookie of the year. Five straight points from Ja Morant allow Memphis to throw an 11-0 which brings them down to -8 (61-53). Jayson Tatum then takes responsibility again to stop the bleeding and drive the point home.
In its wake, Boston takes a 15-point lead (71-56). Ja Morant, in the oven and in the mill, does not abdicate, however. He converts an alley-oop of madness, before delivering a left hand caviar along the end line to find Grayson Allen at 3-point then a smart pass to allow Brandon Clarke to score with the buzzer (83-73).
While Ja Morant continues to put pressure on the Boston defense and shines Jonas Valanciunas (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Brandon Clarke, it is on the other side of the field that the shoe pinches.
The Grizzlies make a series of small mistakes offering second chances to Enes Kanter and leave Gordon Hayward or Kemba Walker alone at 3 points. The gap therefore remains unchanged, oscillating between 11 and 15 points (110-97). With less than five minutes to play, Brad Stevens keeps his holders on the field and the gap flirts with 20 units (119-100). With the victories of Portland, San Antonio and Phoenix, the Grizzlies will therefore have to beat Milwaukee on Thursday to validate their place in “play-in”, while they have just fallen to 9th place in the Western Conference.
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