The Memphis Grizzlies kept their postseason hopes alive on Wednesday night with their dominant win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 at FedExForum as they came away with a 134-95 victory. With the victory, the Grizzlies avoid elimination and now force a Game 6 in San Francisco to potentially line up a do-or-die Game 7 matchup in Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones each scored 21 points and Dillon Brooks added 12 points for Memphis. Ziaire Williams and Brandon Clarke had 11 apiece and De’Anthony Melton scored 10. Steven Adams had 13 rebounds with six offensive. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 19 points, Jonathan Kuminga added 17, Steph Curry had 14 and Damion Lee and Moses Moody each had 10. The 39-point loss was the fifth-largest playoff loss in franchise history. “It was awful,” Thompson said. “It was embarrassing from the opening tip. We didn’t have great flow. They were more aggressive than us, reflecting their 30 free throws to our 13.” Game 6 is Friday night in San Francisco
The Miami Heat roll past the Phildelphia 76ers with a 120-85 win. Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Max Strus added 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Victor Oladipo scored 13 and Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and P.J. Tucker all had 10 apiece. The Heat moved one win away from a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. Joel Embiid scored 17 points for fourth-seeded Philadelphia, which got 14 from James Harden and 12 from Tobias Harris. The 76ers were down by 15 going into the fourth quarter, then gave up 12 consecutive points to open the period. “They were just more physical,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. ”We didn’t run anything. We didn’t run our stuff very well. We played at a snail’s pace … everything they did tonight was harder and better. Their stuff was better, their energy was better.” Game 6 is Thursday in Philadelphia.
