2022 Playoffs Round 1 Game 6 vs Memphis Grizzlies

Lore & Background

The Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating the Grizzlies in six games. This was the first playoff meeting between the teams since 2015.

In Their Own Story

The air in FedExForum was thick with tension, a palpable mix of Memphis confidence and Warriors anxiety. With the series tied 3-2, every possession felt like a lifetime. Stephen Curry dribbled near the logo, his eyes scanning the defense, ignoring the fatigue that had plagued him all postseason. The crowd roared as Ja Morant drove, but Curry was already moving, slipping through the cracks of the defense like water. He pulled up from deep, the ball leaving his fingertips with a familiar spin. It swished through the net, a sound that echoed louder than the cheering crowd. The Grizzlies' young stars looked at one another, a flicker of doubt crossing their faces. Curry didn't celebrate; he simply pointed to the bench, signaling for the next play. In that moment, the history of the franchise seemed to converge on a single player in a dark blue jersey, rewriting the story of a season that many had already written off.

Reader's Guide

The series was part of the Warriors' run to the NBA championship. The Warriors had faced a challenging regular season but peaked in time for the playoffs.

Did You Know?

• Game 1 between the Warriors and Grizzlies was the first game in playoff history where three players age 22 or younger (Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jordan Poole) each had 30-plus points.
• The Warriors won a road game in their 24th consecutive playoff series with a win at Memphis, beating the previous record set by the Miami Heat.