Memphis evens series by handing Golden St. its 1st loss of playoffs
OAKLAND, Calif. — Mike Conley returned just eight days after having facial surgery to score 22 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies used a smothering defensive effort to beat the Golden State Warriors 97-90 on Tuesday night, evening the Western Conference semifinals 1-1.
Wearing a clear mask to protect his swollen face and red left eye, Conley stole the spotlight from newly minted MVP Stephen Curry. He made his first four shots to get the Grizzlies going, and his teammates did the rest on defense.
Zach Randolph had 20 points and seven rebounds, and Marc Gasol and Courtney Lee scored 15 points each to help Memphis end Golden State’s 21-game homewinning streak. The Warriors dropped to 42-3 this season at rowdy Oracle Arena, losing for the first time at home in more than three months and for the first time this postseason.
HAWKS 106, WIZARDS 90
DeMarre Carroll scored 22 points, Kyle Korver bounced back from a miserable first half as top-seeded Atlanta held off visiting Washington to even the Eastern Conference semifinals at one game apiece.
John Wall, who finished the series opener with an injured hand, was a surprising scratch just before Game 2, shortly after the Wizards insisted he would play. Ramon Sessions did an admirable job filling in, leading his team with 21 points, but Washington lost for the first time in these playoffs.
Korver went 1-for-7 from the 3-point line in the first half but kept firing away. He made three 3s after the break, including one from the corner with just under 3 minutes remaining that gave the Hawks a 98-88 lead after Washington had hit consecutive jumpers.
Washington had won its first five playoff games, sweeping Toronto before shocking the Hawks 104-98 to start the second round.