This series is relentless. There is no rest for the weary, no moments of peace. It is an unceasingly physical, aggressive boxing match. No one is getting out of this thing unscathed.
After stealing the series opener in Memphis, the Warriors lost a 106-101 grueler on Tuesday night and were dealt some body blows in a game Ja Morant took over late.
The physicality and Klay Thompson
The level of brutality in this game was astonishing.
Gary Payton II was hit in the head on the early play he injured his elbow, knocking him out of the game. Draymond Green got elbowed in the face and needed stitches for an eye laceration. Stephen Curry was hit in the head and got a cut on his hand. Ja Morant got poked in the eye and couldn’t see for a few minutes in the third quarter. Andrew Wiggins got clawed in the face by Brandon Clarke.
This is what Green’s eye looks like:
Every player on both sides looks like they’re going to need every second of the four-day wait until Saturday’s game.
Despite losing Payton II, the Warriors looked like they were up to the task for the most part. But it took them until the first minute of the fourth quarter to get their first lead because the physicality seemed to wear on Golden State, especially Klay Thompson, who had a nightmare shooting performance.
Thompson was the goat for the Warriors in this one, and not the goat with the positive connotation.
He was 5-of-19 from the floor and 2-of-12 from 3-point range, taking a host of ill-advised shots in an ugly 12-point performance, but at least coming up with 3 steals defensively. With 17 seconds left, he traveled with the Warriors down three, and all but erased their chances of tying the game.
Despite missing a plethora of opportunities they typically don’t miss, the Warriors were playing excellent defense.
There was the intelligent physicality, too. Draymond Green was impressive as usual (6 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, a block and 4 turnovers) and made Jaren Jackson Jr. foul out with about four minutes to go. He was setting up a screen for a drive by Jordan Poole, saw Jackson Jr. unaware and Jackson Jr. ran Green over, ending his night.
But there was a wear on the offense that showed up. Curry (27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 turnovers) was 11-of-25 and 3-of-11 from deep. Thompson was, as mentioned, woeful. Andrew Wiggins, who had an excellent game, was 6-of-16 and 1-of-7 from deep. Jordan Poole (20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists) was 8-of-16, but just 1-of-6 from three.
As a team, Golden State shot an astonishing 18.4 percent from three. The physicality of Memphis seemed to close down their airspace, make them think twice about their shots and wear them down. T
he rest coming into the two-game split at home may do wonders for those shooting numbers on a team full of vets.
Andrew Wiggins invaluable
It’s been easy to make jokes about Andrew Wiggins at various points throughout his career. There have been questions about his passion for the game and general criticisms over the fact that he can just disappear from some games.
You’re not hearing those criticisms right now. He has been immense.
His physicality was crucial on both ends. He was easily the Warriors’ best rebounder. And he was proactive on offense, consistently slashing and attacking the rim.
When he gets involved offensively, his impact can be enormous. And while his shooting numbers were frustrating, along with the rest of the Warriors’ stars, he kept them in the game with his effort.
He recovered key loose balls, forced turnovers, contested shots and rebounded relentlessly. He finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, a couple assists and a block and a steal and was the only member of the starting lineup with a positive plus-minus. Without him, this game would not have been close.
Gary Payton II’s injury and Ja Morant magnificence
We don’t yet know the severity of Gary Payton II’s injury, but he landed hard on his left arm and was writhing in pain for a couple of minutes before he took his two free throws, then exited the game.
He underwent X-rays already and will reportedly undergo MRIs later tonight.
Bob Myers appeared to relay the news to Joe Lacob on the sideline, to which Lacob appears to mouth, “Jesus Christ.”
Whatever the result, there’s a very likely chance Payton II misses some time.
That showed up on Tuesday with Payton II not available to guard Ja Morant.
Morant was absolutely outstanding. He had 47 points on 15-of-31 shooting, 5-of-12 from 3, 12-of-13 from the line with 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
The Warriors didn’t have any answers for him in the final minutes, as the Grizzlies just cleared out and let him run isolation to his heart’s content. At one point, he caught Jordan Poole — a liability defensively — with an eye-popping ankle-breaker and a finish.
He is outrageous, and the Warriors will have to come up with some better answers for how to defend him, especially if Payton II, as seems possible, misses the rest of this series.
UPDATE: Payton II suffered a fractured elbow and is clearly unlikely to return this series. An MRI will determine the severity of the injury.
