Grizzlies injured star Morant doubtful for remainder of playoffs
NBA PLAYOFFS
For summaries and complete results go to the eEdition at MiamiHerald.com.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
MIAMI 3, PHILADELPHIA 2
G1: Miami 106, Philadelphia 92
G2: Miami 119, Philadephia 103
G3: Philadelphia 99, Miami 79
G4: Philadelphia 116, Miami 108
Tuesday: Miami 120, Philadelphia 85 Thursday: at Philadelphia, 7, ESPN x-Sunday: at Miami, time TBA, TNT
BOSTON 2, MILWAUKEE 2
G1: Milwaukee 101, Boston 89
G2: Boston 109, Milwaukee 86
G3: Milwaukee 103, Boston 101
G4: Boston 116, Milwaukee 108 Wednesday: at Boston, 7, TNT
Friday: at Milwaukee, 7:30 or 8, ESPN x-Sunday, May 15: at Boston, 3:30, ABC
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS 2, PHOENIX 2
G1: Phoenix 121, Dallas 114
G2: Phoenix 129, Dallas 109
G3: Dallas 103, Phoenix 94
G4: Dallas 111, Phoenix 101
Tuesday: at Phoenix, late
Thursday: at Dallas, 9:30, ESPN x-Sunday: at Phoenix, 8 or 9:30, TNT
GOLDEN STATE 3, MEMPHIS 1
G1: Golden State 117, Memphis 116
G2: Memphis 106, Golden State 101
G3: Golden State 142, Memphis 112
G4: Golden State 101, Memphis 98 Wednesday: at Memphis, 9:30, TNT x-Friday: at Golden State, 9 or 10, ESPN x-Sunday: at Memphis, TBA, TNT
From Miami Herald Wire Services
Memphis All-Star guard Ja Morant is doubtful for the remainder of the NBA postseason after an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his injured right knee.
The Grizzlies said they expect him to make a full recovery.
The NBA’s most improved player had been averaging 38.3 points a game in the Grizzlies’ Western Conference semifinal matchup with Golden State. But he sat out the 101-98 Game 4 loss on Monday with what the team said at the time was a sore knee.
The Grizzlies trail 3-1 in the series with Game 5 set for Wednesday night in Memphis.
Morant reinjured his knee on a play with the
Warriors’ Jordan Poole
that the teams debated during the Grizzlies’ 142112 loss in Game 3.
Morant limped off with 6:19 remaining in the game after Poole grabbed at the knee on a play the Warriors guard said was simply an effort to strip the ball.
Afterward, Morant posted and later deleted a video of the play on his Twitter feed with the words “broke the code,” a reference that Warriors coach Steve Kerr had used five days earlier when Dillon Brooks’
hard foul in Game 2 sidelined Gary Payton II.
Kerr missed Game 4 after testing positive for COVID-19 and being placed in the league’s health and safety protocols. He remained at home in the Bay Area on
Tuesday and did not travel to Memphis with the team. Associate head coach Mike Brown will coach Game 5 as planned.
Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said via text message Tuesday that the Warriors had no new cases of COVID-19.
LATE MONDAY
Celtics 116, Bucks 108:
Al Horford and Jayson Tatum scored 30 points apiece and led visiting Boston’s fourthquarter comeback in a victory over Milwaukee that tied their Eastern Conference semifinal at two games apiece.
The two teams have alternated victories in this best-of-seven series, which continues Wednesday with Game 5 in Boston.
Horford scored 16 points and Tatum 12 in the fourth quarter alone to help the Celtics outscore the defending NBA champion Bucks 43-28 in the final period. Horford’s 30 points were a career playoff high for the 35-yearold veteran.
Tatum scored eight points and Horford had six during a 14-2 run that put the Celtics ahead for good and gave them a 106-96 advantage with 3:33 left. The Bucks wouldn’t cut the margin below six the rest of the way.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 18 rebounds and five assists for the Bucks.