Morant-Curry duel center of Grizzlies-Warriors showdown
MEMPHIS — Ja Morant was rolling, making acrobatic drives to the basket.
Stephen Curry was taking and knocking down step-back 3s.
Yes, the All-Star guards got plenty of help in Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies-Golden State Warriors playoff series, but they didn’t disappoint in the opener of their highly anticipated showdown.
“Oh yeah, friendly competition, just enjoying the moment,” Curry said after the Warriors took Game 1 on Sunday 117-116. “Understanding the big play. He had it going you know, he was going to try to get pressure on the rim, and it’s trying to do my part obviously.”
There is no question twotime NBA MVP Curry and the league’s Most Improved Player in Morant did their parts.
Morant was nearly unstoppable. After scoring with Jonathan Kuminga defending him, Morant emphatically proclaimed: “He. Can’t. Guard. Me.” For stretches, it appeared no one was to be able to defend Morant, who came close to a triple-double with 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
But down the stretch Curry — who had 24 points and was 5 of 12 outside the arc — and the Warriors found a way.
Known more for his offense as a two-time scoring champ, Curry had a huge block as he swatted away a layup attempt by Morant with 20 seconds left. Teammate Klay Thompson had the big defensive play, forcing Morant to miss the would-be game-winning layup as time expired.
“Every game it’s going to be kind of a one-on-one type of situation,” Curry said. “Taking on all those challenges, you’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some. Now obviously you just be ready for when your moment happens on the defensive end.”
Morant said he simply missed the layup at the buzzer, but he had it going from 3-point range, hitting as many (four) as he did in all of the first round against Minnesota. If that continues, he will be even tougher to contain.
Thompson said Morant making 3s forces opponents to pick their poison with his speed to the basket. Morant led the NBA in scoring in the paint, averaging 16.6 points a game during the regular season.