Warriors vs. Grizzlies score, results: Ja Morant leads Memphis to thrilling win over Golden State

Jordan Greer

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Warriors vs. Grizzlies score, results: Ja Morant leads Memphis to thrilling win over Golden State image

The Grizzlies and Warriors went back and forth in Friday night's play-in tournament finale, but Memphis ultimately prevailed behind a star effort from Ja Morant, who scored 35 points in his team's 117-112 overtime win.

Morant came up clutch in the extra period, hitting two floaters in the final minute. The second shot proved to be the dagger, as it gave the Grizzlies a five-point lead with less than five seconds on the clock.

MVP candidate Stephen Curry scored a game-high 39 points in the loss, and Golden State forward Draymond Green posted an 11-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. However, the veteran duo also combined for 13 of Golden State's 21 turnovers.

Memphis now moves on to face top-seeded Utah in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs. The Grizzlies and Jazz will play Game 1 of that series on Sunday night.

Sporting News provided live scoring updates and highlights from Warriors vs. Grizzlies on Friday. Check out all the highlights you missed right here.

Warriors vs. Grizzlies score

Play-in game Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT Final
Warriors 29 20 24 26 13 112
Grizzlies 30 32 16 21 18 117

Warriors vs. Grizzlies live updates, highlights from NBA play-in game

(All times Eastern)

Final: Grizzlies 117, Warriors 112

Midnight — Desmond Bane explodes to the rim for the monster finish off the inbounds pass, and that will do it. The Grizzlies are heading to the playoffs. 

11:55 p.m. — Oh my. Jordan Poole drills a crazy 3-pointer. We're not done yet.

11:52 p.m. — JA MORANT. The second-year guard with a clutch floater to put the Grizzlies up by five with 4.5 seconds left.

11:50 p.m. — Grayson Allen and Draymond Green are trading 3-pointers. Uh, what is going on?

End of regulation: Grizzlies 99, Warriors 99

11:40 p.m. — Draymond Green throws up a wild shot as time expires, but it bounces off the backboard. We are heading to overtime.

11:35 p.m. — Taylor Jenkins doesn't use his challenge on a questionable foul call, and Jordan Poole hits three free throws with less than two minutes to go. Shocking that he is keeping the challenge this late in the game.

11:25 p.m. — Terrific touch on the floater. The Grizzlies always love a good floater.

11:15 p.m. — Catch, spin, score. It's getting interesting at the Chase Center . . .

End of third quarter: Grizzlies 78, Warriors 73

11:05 p.m. — A little flurry at the end of the third quarter from the Warriors, and suddenly this is a five-point game.

10:55 p.m. — Dillon Brooks' defense on Stephen Curry has been terrific. Really making the two-time NBA MVP work for his points.

10:45 p.m. — Stephen Curry is trying to cut down this deficit all by himself.

10:40 p.m. — A loose ball foul called on Jaren Jackson Jr., bringing his total to four. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins is keeping him in the game.

Halftime: Grizzlies 62, Warriors 49

10:20 p.m. — The Grizzlies didn't just survive without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas. They built up a double-digit advantage heading into the locker room. Ja Morant has a team-high 12 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

10:05 p.m. — Wow. Jaren Jackson Jr. is called for his third foul. It looks like the Grizzlies will have to play the rest of the first half without two of their starters.

10 p.m. — And there's foul No. 3 on Jonas Valanciunas. That could loom large.

9:55 p.m. — Kevon Looney, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas have each picked up two fouls early in the first half. It will be interesting to see how the coaches handle their rotations if foul trouble becomes an issue.

End of first quarter: Grizzlies 30, Warriors 29

9:45 p.m. — Uh oh. Stephen Curry is heating up.

9:40 p.m. — Ja Morant showing off the fancy footwork:

9:30 p.m. — Does this count as a dunk?

9:25 p.m. — What a start for Memphis. The Grizzlies jump out to a 16-6 lead after hitting their first six field goal attempts.

9:15 p.m. — The Warriors win the tip, and Kent Bazemore drains a corner 3-pointer on the first possession of the game. Here we go.

9:10 p.m. — Just another normal warm-up shot for Stephen Curry:

8:55 p.m. — And Golden State's starting five: Stephen Curry, Kent Bazemore, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.

8:45 p.m. — Memphis' starting five: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas.

8:35 p.m. — How would you grade the play-in outfits for Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.?

8:25 p.m. — Kevon Looney just put in his application to be a "Splash Brother."

Warriors vs. Grizzlies start time

  • Date: Friday, May 21
  • Start time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: Watch ESPN | fuboTV

Grizzlies vs. Warriors will be broadcast live on ESPN. You can live stream the game via Watch ESPN or the Watch ESPN app.

Play-in games on ESPN can also be streamed on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.

NBA play-in tournament schedule

May 18

Game (play-in) Time (ET) National TV
Hornets vs. Pacers 6:30 p.m. TNT
Wizards vs. Celtics 9 p.m. TNT

May 19

Game (play-in) Time (ET) National TV
Spurs vs. Grizzlies 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Warriors vs. Lakers 10 p.m. ESPN

May 20

Game (play-in) Time (ET) National TV
Pacers vs. Wizards 8 p.m. TNT

May 21

Game (play-in) Time (ET) National TV
Grizzlies vs. Warriors 9 p.m. ESPN

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.