The Memphis Grizzlies knocked the Golden State Warriors out of the play-in tournament last season. Now, Steve Kerr's team has the chance to get back at them by taking them out of the playoffs with a win on Wednesday.
The Dubs hold a 3-1 lead in the series despite being a lower seed than them. Now, they head to Tennessee to try and close things out and head back to the Western Conference Finals one more time.
Ja Morant couldn't finish Game 3 and was out for Game 4. And even though the Grizzlies were 20-5 in the regular season without him and even despite the fact that they took the Dubs right to the wire, not having their floor general and the best player took a massive toll on their chances.
Morant will most likely sit with a knee injury again but the Grizzlies have been perhaps the most resilient team in the league this season. They've proved that no matter the deficit, the rival, or the situation, you can never count them out from a game.
Some people thought the dynasty was over. Some claimed that Klay Thompson would never be the same. But even if they're right, the Dubs still have Jordan Poole as one of the blossoming stars in the league right now.
Steve Kerr will miss Game 5 as well after testing positive for Covid-19 on Monday but that shouldn't hurt a veteran team like the Warriors. They're tailor-made for the postseason, their core knows what it takes to thrive at this stage, and they've played with a chip on their shoulder all season long.
As we mentioned before, the Grizzlies will be forced to play without Ja Morant. For the Warriors, Andre Iguodala and Gary Payton II will stay on the shelf for a little longer.
In terms of trends, it's worth noting that the Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite, while the Grizzlies are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Even though the trend clearly favors the home team, the momentum does not, and neither does the context.
The Warriors are a veteran, championship-driven team. They've proven to be merciless over the years, and they will handle this game as a title-clinching matchup, no less.
The Grizzlies are an up-and-coming team and they'll have their time. They'll be back. But it's too hard not to back up the Warriors as short 3.5-point favorites in a series-clinching scenario.
