After a big win against the Heat on Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies are tasked with a huge back-to-back series against the Golden State Warriors on Friday and Saturday.
With the Dubs not having Wiseman, Paschall, and with the potential absence of Stephen Curry, due to a tailbone injury, the Grizzlies should have it about as easy as it can get against the Warriors.
They should at least.
The Grizzlies have a chance to get over .500 and really gain some momentum to help roll out some more big wins in the second half of the season with this series.
What does the NBA 2K21 simulation have to say about today’s matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors?
In the first quarter, the game stayed really close with the score ending at 28-27 in favor of the Grizzlies. A couple of things to note in the first is the number of fouls the Grizzlies drew (9) and the fact that most of their points (17) came from the starters. While the Grizzlies shot horribly at the line (6/12), they still kept the game in their favor by being aggressive and not letting the Warriors get into a rhythm.
The second quarter was similar to the first as the Grizzlies found opportunities to shoot from the line, going 8/10 at the stripe. However, Outside of that, they couldn’t make a basket. In the second, they shot a miserable 6/19 from the field while the Warriors shot 14/25 and enjoyed a 60-50 lead at the half. This was not the start Memphis was hoping for.
At the half, there were a couple of huge things that stood out. The Warriors had not attempted a free throw yet. The Grizzlies had attempted 22 and made 14. Another thing that stood out was the 30 bench points the Dubs had compared to our 19. Overall, they were just flat out shooting better and taking advantage of turnovers (nine points off turnovers compared to our zero).
In the third quarter is when things really got interesting.
The Grizzlies went ballistic and scored 41 (!!!) points in the third and held the Warriors to just 16. It went about as you’d imagine. The Grizz seemingly couldn’t miss and the Dubs just couldn’t buy a bucket. At this point, Memphis overtook the lead and headed into the fourth with a score of 91-76.
In the fourth, the Grizzlies never looked back and took an 11-point win at home. Memphis led in almost every major statistical category including field goal and three-point percentage, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks were clearly the difference-makers in this simulation.
Here are some of the key statlines from the simulation:
Memphis Grizzlies (117 points, 52 rebounds, 27 assists, 5 steals, 6 blocks, 49% FG 38% 3PT, 69% FT)
Starters
PG: Ja Morant (31 minutes) – 37 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 14/22 FG, 2/7 3PT, 7/8 FT
SG: De’Anthony Melton (25 minutes) – 2 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1/4 FG, 0/2 3PT
SF: Dillon Brooks (19 minutes) – 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 9/12 FG, 3/4 3PT
PF: Kyle Anderson (30 minutes) – 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4/10 FG, 1/2 FT
C: Jonas Valanciunas (31 minutes) – 11 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3/7 FG, 5/6 FT
Key Bench Performers
Desmond Bane (18 minutes) – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5/11 FG, 3/6 3PT, 2/2 FT
Brandon Clarke (23 minutes) – 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2/7 FG, 4/8 FT
Justise Winslow (20 minutes) – 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2/4 FG, 1/2 3PT, 2/4 FT
Golden State Warriors (106 points, 43 rebounds, 23 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 43% FG, 28% 3PT, 81% FT)
Starters
PG: Brad Wanamaker (26 minutes) – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3/3 FG, 4/4 FT
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr. (31 minutes) – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3/11 FG, 1/5 3PT, 5/5 FT
SF: Andrew Wiggins (28 minutes) – 35 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 15/23 FG, 1/6 3PT, 4/7 FT
PF: Draymond Green (32 minutes) – 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3/7 FG, 0/3 3PT
C: Kevon Looney (32 minutes) – 6 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3/10 FG
Key Bench Performers
Jordan Poole (18 minutes) – 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3/10 FG, 3/9 3PT
Damion Lee (16 minutes) – 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4/6 FG, 0/1 3PT
NBA 2K21 simulation prediction record before game vs. GSW: 0-1