Warriors vs. Grizzlies: Stephen Curry Talks Trash to Ja Morant, Slams Referees Over Draymond Green Ejection
(Photo : Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors won Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies, 117-116, in a thrilling series opener on Sunday

The Golden State Warriors won Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies, 117-116, in a thrilling series opener on Sunday.

Golden State was led by reserve guard Jordan Poole, who scored 31 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
With 36.6 seconds left, Klay Thompson hit the game-winning 3-pointer, and the Warriors stopped Grizzlies playmaker Ja Morant twice in the final seconds.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry called it a "great win to start the series" despite the ejection of their defensive star Draymond Green

Golden State got 24 points from Curry, 17 from Andrew Wiggins, and 15 from Thompson.

While Morant had 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and Jaren Jackson had 33 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.

Curry Blasts Refereees' Bad Call 

After the victory, Curry expressed his disappointment in how Green was thrown out of the game.
"Nobody wants to see that. It's not good for the game," the two-time MVP told sports journalists.

When Green was called for a flagrant-2 foul on Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke late in the second quarter, he was ejected. According to Bleacher Report, Green seemed to strike Clarke in the face and grasp his jersey, supposedly to assist him in preparing for the fall.

To compensate for Green's absence, the Warriors used a frontcourt rotation of players. Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga, and Otto Porter Jr. all played well in the second half. But rising star Jordan Poole emerged as the best player in the game.

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Showdown Of Point Guards

The exchange of buckets and jabs between Curry and Morant was one facet of the game that electrified the crowd. Per Yard Barker, the point guard duel was well worth the anticipation, as both players went at it right off the bat.

Morant, however, talked smack way too soon.

Morant gave an outstanding performance, and his emotions were running high. After scoring a floater to finish the first half, he exclaimed, "He can't guard me!" in front of the three-time NBA Champion Warriors.

Morant should've known what was coming, whether it was to make a statement or simply to be spurred by passion at the time. Subsequently, per NBC Sports, Curry stepped up his defense towards the end of the game to defend Morant and put more pressure on the phenom.

Curry saved the Warriors' one-point lead by blocking Morant's potential game-winning shot that humbled the Grizzlies' guard for dancing and talking trash.

Curry rejected Morant's attempt with 19.8 seconds left in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals in Memphis, and the Warriors prevailed.

Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr praised Curry's "brilliant" defensive effort that sealed their victory.

"He caught fire in that fourth quarter and made a lot of plays. Great play by Steph," Kerr said in a post-game interview.

Kerr added that Curry, regarded as one of the greatest shooters of all time, "has been underrated defensively for a long time."

"But I think this was the best defensive season of his career. We definitely saw that all year long. His ability to stay in front, to get his hand on a loose ball or a shot or a long rebound," he said.

The Western Conference second-round best-of-seven series will resume at Memphis on Tuesday.

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