Team basketball contest
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a wave of three consecutive losses, and the San Antonio Spurs came to the tenth position in the West, for Popovich, a playoff trip, insignificant, but if the Lakers' playoff hopes can be erased, then it is definitely a meaningful thing. So, the Spurs will definitely win as much as possible and keep the tenth place in the West. However, in this game, the Spurs have ushered in a strong opponent, that is, the Memphis Grizzlies, the second place in the West.
Without Morant, the Grizzlies were unaffected, and even played an 18-2 record with a 90% win rate. So far this season, the Grizzlies have eight number ones in the league, and against such a strong team, all the Spurs can do is do their best. However, both teams are exemplary team basketball, and whoever can better execute the tactics can have the last laugh.
The last second is a win or a loss
Although it was an away game, the Grizzlies showed their strength in the first quarter, Jones got 8 points, 2 assists and 2 steals, Jalen Jr. also had 7 points and 1 rebound, the team blossomed more, and the single quarter bombed 31 points, but the Spurs also scored 27 points, of which Murray scored 7 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, Johnson was 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and the two reverse charts supported the team's offense. After returning from the second quarter, the Grizzlies made another effort, with Brooks scoring nine points and one assist, Bain also having nine points, one rebound and two assists, and Clark having seven points and three rebounds.
The Grizzlies' offense was so good that they blasted another 34 points in the second quarter, while the Spurs only had 25 points, Murray had 7 points and 4 rebounds, and Vassell had 9 points and 1 assist. By the end of the half, the Spurs were 13 points behind the Grizzlies at 52-65. In the second half, the Spurs began to play again, Murray took 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, Vassell shot 3 of 8 points, Johnson 5 points and 2 rebounds, the team bombed 34 points in a single quarter, and the Grizzlies only scored 28 points, so the Spurs successfully narrowed the point difference to 7 points.
In the final quarter of the game, the Spurs once tied the score, but the Grizzlies showed resilience and regained a seven-point lead. Then the Spurs kept chasing, but time passed by minute by minute. In the final minute, Murray's key jumper helped the Spurs chase the three-point deficit. Johnson did not break through the layup, but he grabbed the rebound and made up the basket. Bain missed the basket, the Spurs got the ball, there were only 5.2 seconds left, a one-point difference, Popovich quickly called a timeout.
After the timeout came back, the Spurs ran a perfect strategy, Johnson cut to the basket to receive the serve, directly to the basket, but the ball rolled on the basket or did not score. The Grizzlies took the rebounds and the time was running out. In the end, the Memphis Grizzlies narrowly beat the San Antonio Spurs 112-111, winning six consecutive games while ending the Spurs' four-game winning streak.
The Lakers regained the tenth place in the West
One point difference, no kill failed! Spurs lost to the Grizzlies, and you deserve more than the Lakers in the playoffs. Although the Spurs lost the game, but facing such a Grizzlies, able to save the suspense of the game until the last moment, this Spurs have gained respect. There are even many fans who say that this Spurs are more worthy of a play-off place than the Lakers. Murray had 33 points, 13 rebounds and three assists and six three-pointers, Kelden Johnson also had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Vassell had 19 points, 1 rebound and one assist. After the Spurs lost the game, the Lakers returned to the tenth place in the West.
But even so, the Spurs still have a chance to regain the tenth place in the West, after all, their next schedule is much easier than the Lakers. The Grizzlies won the game, there was no danger, and without Morant, the record improved to 19 wins and 2 losses, which was really breathtaking. Jones had 25 points, five rebounds and six assists, Brooks also had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists, Bane had 16 points, three rebounds and three assists, Melton had 16 points, four rebounds, Clark had 10 points and four rebounds, and the team scored five in double figures and hit 16 three-pointers.