Morant, Grizzlies oust Golden State in OT

SAN FRANCISCO — Ja Morant made consecutive jumpers in the final 48 seconds of overtime and totaled 35 points, Memphis had an answer for every Stephen Curry flurry, and the Grizzlies headed back to the playoffs for the first time in four years after holding off the Golden State Warriors 117-112 on Friday in a thrilling play-in game.

Jordan Poole hit a goahead 3-pointer with 1:50 left in OT for Golden State only to see Xavier Tillman answer with a baseline 3 moments later. Poole lost the ball out of bounds, leading to Morant’s basket with four seconds left, and then Poole made another 3 with two seconds to go.

Morant shot 14 for 29 with five 3-pointers as Memphis won on the Warriors’ home floor five days after losing 113-101 in the regular-season finale.

Curry, who became scoring champion Sunday against the Grizzlies, hit six 3-pointers and totaled 39 points while dazzling in front of an animated, roaring crowd of 7,505 in the biggest game yet at second-year Chase Center.

Memphis earned the No. 8 seed and advanced to face top-seeded Utah in the first round of the best-of-seven Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 is Sunday in Salt Lake City.

The Grizzlies held off San Antonio 100-96 at home Wednesday and then traveled back to the Bay Area. The Warriors lost a heartbreaker to Lebron James and the Lakers 103-100 at Staples Center on Wednesday.