The Golden State Warriors are coming off a brutal loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Still, they have the upper hand in the series with the chance to finish things off this Saturday at home. Will they win Game 6 and advance to the Western Conference Finals? Or, will the Grizzlies extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 7?

Catch this game live on Saturday, May 14, at 10 AM, Manila time

Away: Memphis Grizzlies (2-3/0-2 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Tyus Jones
  • SG: Desmond Bane
  • SF: Ziaire Williams
  • PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
  • C: Xavier Tillman

Just because Ja Morant is not available doesn’t mean the Grizzlies don’t have a shot of upsetting the Warriors. There’s no stronger indication of that than 134-95 demolition job of a win in Game 5. Moreover, the Grizzlies are 20-5 straight up back in the regular season in games in which Morant did not play. The Grizzlies are fortunate to have one of the best backup guards in the NBA in the form of Tyus Jones, who’s been a steady presence for the team. 

In Game 5, Jones finished with 21 points and 9 assists on zero turnovers. Others stepped as well for Memphis, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane scoring 21 points apiece. It was high time for Bane to make his presence felt after being so silent in the previous games, and the Grizzlies are hoping he could sustain that form while getting increased shot attempts due to Morant’s absence. The 3-pointers that kept on falling for the Grizzlies in Game 5 will also have to be there for the team in another do-or-die contest. The Grizzlies, who are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog, are shooting better from deep (35.8 3FG%) in the series than Golden State (33.2 3FG%).

Giannis Antetokoumpo dealt with a bleeding eye and had 40 points and 11 rebounds, and his teammates stepped up when it mattered.
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Home: Golden State Warriors (3-2/2-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Stephen Curry
  • SG: Klay Thompson
  • SF: Andrew Wiggins
  • PF: Jonathan Kuminga
  • C: Draymond Green

The Warriors who played in Game 5? That wasn’t Golden State. In no universe will the Warriors would lose two games in a row in that kind of fashion, especially against the same team that is already missing its best player. It’s almost like the Warriors didn’t give a hoot about winning an ACTUAL playoff game in which they could end the series, with Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green each playing no more than 25 minutes. 

If anything, those three Warriors stars are well-rested heading to Game 6 that will be played at Chase Center, where they are 6-2 ATS in their last eight appearances there. The Grizzlies obviously got the better of Golden State in Game 5, but expect Curry and the rest of the Warriors to show up with a more aggressive mentality, knowing that a potential Game 7 would be in enemy territory. That should reflect on how they would approach their rebounding this Saturday after allowing Memphis to grab 14 more offensive rebounds in Game 5.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Warriors cover (-8)

Over/Under: The Under (217.5) hits.

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