2015 Playoffs Round 2

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Mike Conley returned to game action with a vengeance on Tuesday to lead the Grizzlies past the Warriors, 97-90, in Oakland to even the Series 1-1. The loss marks the third home loss of the season for the Warriors to end their 21-game win streak.

Wearing the clear mask to protect his face and injured left eye, Conley stole the spotlight leading the Grizzlies with 22 points and 3 assists in 27 minutes of play.

Zach Randolph added 20 points and seven rebounds, and Marc Gasol and Courtney Lee scored 15 points apiece.

Conley, who missed the team's last three playoff games, knocked down shots in the first quarter as the Grizzlies exploited the Warriors defense to start the game with a 9-0 run. Memphis scored the final nine points of the second quarter to take a 50-39 lead at the the half.

Conley avoided serious contact until the second quarter, when Draymond Green hit him in the face trying to grab the ball as the point guard lay on the court signaling for a timeout. Conley winced in pain as Grizz Nation held their breath before getting up and returning to the game. Officials reviewed the play and ruled there was no excessive contact.

The Warriors had 20 turnovers and shot just 41.9 percent, including 23.1 percent from 3-point range. The Grizzlies had 13 steals, four of which belonged to Tony Allen

Golden State rallied in the fourth quarter, but a 3-pointer by Conley gave the Grizzlies a 90-80 lead with 2 minutes left in the game. Conley went to the bench briefly in the final minutes of the game due to cramping.

MVP Steph Curry finished with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Western Conference Semifinal action comes to Memphis on Saturday night for Game 3 and Monday for Game 4. Limited inventory is available Saturday's game. For access to the best selection of seats and a host of MVP benefits, place 30% down on Season Tickets.

Box Score | Discuss the game on the Fan Boards.

Mask up for Mike Conley's return to the Western Conference Semifinal

Download Mike's mask and add it to your social media profile photo to show support for Mike Conley's return to Round 2!

The Grizzlies will face of against the Warriors in Home Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday, May 9 and Monday, May 11. Limited inventory is available for Saturday, May 9. For access to the best selection of seats and a host of MVP benefits, place 30% down on Season Tickets.

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Mike Conley returns to lead Grizzlies charge past Warriors in Game 2

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Western Conference Semifinals Practice

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Rd. 2 Gm. 1: Gallery III

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Rd. 2 Gm. 1: Gallery II

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Rd. 2 Gm. 1: Gallery I

The Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon in the series opener of the Western Conference Semifinals, 86-101.

Marc Gasol had 21 points and nine rebounds, and Zach Randolph finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for a Memphis team missing point guard Mike Conley. He sat on the bench in a suit, his left eye still swollen, as he continues to recover from surgery to repair broken bones in his face.

The Warriors shot 50.6 percent, including 46.4 percent from 3-point range (13 of 28). The Grizzlies shot 45.2 percent but was just 3 of 12 (25 percent) from beyond the arc. Both teams had 16 turnovers.

Stephen Curry pushed the pace from start to finish, and Memphis never could slow Golden State down. The Warriors went ahead by 16 in the second quarter, and Curry kept the pressure after the Grizzlies moved within seven.

Golden State led by nine at the half, 20 late in the third quarter and never let Memphis come close in the fourth despite Draymond Green and center Andrew Bogut getting in foul trouble.

Stephen Curry had 22 points and seven assists. Klay Thompson added 18 points and Draymond Green scored 16.

The Grizzlies and Warriors will tip-off again on Tuesday at 9:30pm(CT). Catch Game 2 at the Official Watch Party.

Memphis and Golden State will tip-off on Tuesday, May 5 for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at 9:30pm/CT.

The Grizzlies will face of against the Warriors in Home Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday, May 9. Tickets are on sale NOW.

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Grizzlies fall to Warriors in Game 1

The Memphis Grizzlies’ today announced their Western Conference Semifinal TV and radio schedules and details for the Game 1 Bud Light Watch Party at FedExForum. (Complete schedule below.)

SportSouth, the exclusive regional television home of the Memphis Grizzlies, will televise Grizzlies LIVE! Playoffs Edition throughout the Western Conference Semifinal in Memphis immediately following each game beginning Sunday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. CT after Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. Additionally, Grizzlies LIVE! Playoffs Edition pregame coverage will be streamed live 30 minutes before each game beginning Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. CT on www.grizzlies.com or through the Grizzlies Mobile App.

Grizzlies LIVE! Playoffs Edition, hosted by Rob Fischer, alongside Brevin Knight, Chris Vernon and reporter Pete Pranica, will bring fans the latest team news after every game, with exclusive locker room interviews and comprehensive coverage of the Grizzlies throughout Western Conference Semifinal.

For those who want to watch Game 1 and Grizzlies LIVE! Playoffs Edition with their fellow Grizz Nation fans and Grizz, the Grizz Girls and the Claw Crew – Bud Light Watch Parties are back with the first of Round 2 happening at FedExForum.  Fans are invited to mingle through the Bud Light Bar, Pyramid Vodka Studios and in the Grand Lobby where the game will be screened. The Grizzlies take on Golden State at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and parking is free in the Toyota Parking Garage and drink specials will be available. 2015 Grizzlies Playoff merchandise will be available at the Grizz Den by adidas and will be open and accessible through the Grand Lobby. (A complete listing of Grizzlies Bud Light Watch Parties is listed below.)

All Grizzlies postseason games will also be carried live on 92.9 FM ESPN Radio and will feature play-by-play announcer Eric Hasseltine and analysts Hank McDowell and Elliot Perry. Coverage begins with the pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip-off hosted by Gary Darby and analyst Jon Roser.

Coming off 23 consecutive home playoff sellouts, Grizz Nation fans are encouraged to purchase 2015-16 Season Tickets to guarantee playoff priority. Season Tickets are available by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. For more information on the Grizzlies, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).

The 2015 Grizzlies Playoffs are presented by Memphis Toyota Dealers and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Below is the Grizzlies’ local broadcast schedule for the First Round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs (check Grizzlies.com for channel listings):

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Memphis Grizzlies announce TV and Radio Schedules and Game 1 Watch Party Details at FedExForum

By: Daniel Carp, Grizzlies.com Contributor

Game 1: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at Oracle ArenaGame 2: Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. at Oracle ArenaGame 3: Saturday, 7 p.m. at FedExForumGame 4: May 11, 8:30 p.m. at FedExForumGame 5*: May 13, TBD at Oracle ArenaGame 6*: May 15, TBD at FedExForumGame 7*: May 17, TBD at Oracle Arena*If necessary

Record: 67-15Standings: First in Western Conference, first in Pacific DivisionStarting Five: PG Stephen Curry, SG Klay Thompson, SF Harrison Barnes, PF Draymond Green, C Andrew BogutHead Coach: Steve Kerr (first season with team)

The top-seeded Warriors made short work of the eighth-seeded Pelicans, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals in a four-game sweep. New Orleans put up a considerable fight against a team that lost just 15 games in the regular season, with none of the series' four games decided by more than 10 points.

The defining moment of the series was Game 3, when Golden State came back from 20 points down in the fourth quarter to take a 123-119 overtime victory behind point guard Stephen Curry's 40 points, including seven three-pointers. MVP candidate Anthony Davis had a chance to ice the game for the Pelicans from the free-throw line with 9.6 seconds remaining in regulation but came up short.

Golden State took two of its three matchups with the Grizzlies during the 2014-15 regular season, including both of the contests that were played in the last two weeks of the regular season.

When the teams last met on April 13 in the regular season's penultimate game, the Warriors prevailed 111-107 despite a late surge by Memphis. After leading by as many as 32 points in the third quarter, Golden State chose to rest its starters the rest of the way. The Grizzlies took advantage, outscoring the Warriors 41-18 in the fourth quarter and pulling dangerously close in the waning seconds. Shooting guard Jordan Adams scored a team-high 19 points off the bench and backcourt mate Russ Smith added 16 points in just 10 minutes of action to spark the Memphis comeback. Shooting guard Klay Thompson led the charge for the Warriors, scoring 42 points on 15-of-20 from the floor, including 8-of-10 from three-point range.

Memphis did not waste any time in its first-round series either, dispatching the fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in five games to advance. After winning the series' first two games on their home floor by convincing double-digit margins, the Grizzlies squandered a 10-point fourth quarter lead and a chance for its first sweep in franchise history, dropping Game 4 99-92 in Portland. Memphis made sure it finished the job in Game 5 despite missing point guard Mike Conley for the second consecutive game as he recovered from surgery for a facial injury.

Center Marc Gasol proved the sprained left ankle he suffered in the final week of the regular season was not going to hamper him in the playoffs, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the series. Shooting guard Courtney Lee gave Memphis significant offensive production, averaging 17.2 points per contest and shooting 54.5 percent from three-point range. Vince Carter also showed glimpses of why he was one of the league's most dynamic high-flyers earlier in his career, exploding for a pair of highlight-reel dunks in the series clincher.

Point guard: Stephen Curry (GSW) vs. Mike Conley (MEM)

One of the series' most intriguing matchups became even more compelling after a freak elbow to the face left Conley with a serious facial injury during Game 3 and sent him into surgery. Prior to Conley's injury, his matchup with Curry juxtaposed two distinct styles, the lightning-quick sharpshooter against the deliberate slasher. After the Memphis point guard missed his team's last two games, it is unclear whether he will be available in this series. If Conley is ready to go, he will be forced to wear a protective facemask, and there's no telling how that could affect his performance. Containing Curry when healthy is an unenviable task.

Shooting guard: Klay Thompson (GSW) vs. Courtney Lee (MEM)

During the regular season, Lee's primary task would have been to slow Thompson down. But after asserting himself as an offensive weapon in Memphis' first-round series against Portland, the matchup at the off-guard spot could be a lot more two-sided. Both Lee and Thompson shot the ball exceptionally well from beyond the arc in the first round, knocking down 54.5 and 48.5 percent of their 3-point attempts, respectively. It's unclear how much defensive intensity will come from this matchup, but you will see no shortage of fireworks.

Small forward: Harrison Barnes (GSW) vs. Tony Allen (MEM)

Memphis' defensive stopper will have his hands full with this matchup. Standing at 6-foot-4, Allen will be tasked with shutting down the 6-foot-8 Barnes, who has the ability to score from both inside and outside. After shifting in and out of the starting lineup in the back half of the regular season, Allen started four of the Grizzlies' five games in the first round. Neither Allen nor Barnes were terribly productive offensively in the first round, but both have the potential to be X-factors in this series.

Power forward: Draymond Green (GSW) vs. Zach Randolph (MEM)

Although Memphis gives up size at the small forward position, it has a size advantage at the power forward spot with the 6-foot-10 Randolph matching up on Green, who stands at just 6-foot-7. Despite being undersized for his position, Green makes up for it with his strength and intensity. His ability to score from the perimeter can also create a matchup problem of its own. If Randolph uses physical play inside to wear Green down, it could make his life easier on the defensive end.

Center: Andrew Bogut (GSW) vs. Marc Gasol (MEM)

Another series, another matchup of crafty foreign-born centers. Bogut tends to play the fewest limited minutes among Golden State's starters, but still presents an imposing presence around the rim that will require Gasol's attention. The Grizzlies All-Star center had no trouble scoring the basketball in the first round, but perhaps the most impressive facet of his game was as a passer, leading Memphis in assists on the series. Gasol's ability to attract multiple defenders and hit open teammates out of the double team could be a major offensive asset for the Grizzlies in this series.

Perhaps the scariest part of Golden State’s four-game sweep of the Pelicans was that the team's normally-pinpoint aim from beyond the arc was slightly off. Despite averaging 39.8 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, the Warriors hit just 37.9 percent of its three-point attempts against New Orleans. Golden State proved that it doesn't need to hit 3-pointers with startling precision to be one of the NBA's most threatening offensive forces.

Memphis averaged 17,329 fans per game at FedExForum this season and the Grizzlies tied for sixth-best in the league with a 31-10 home record on the season. Oracle Arena, home of the Warriors, was near capacity most of the season with an average of 19,596 fans per game. Golden State tied an NBA record this season with a 39-2 record in the regular season and won both of its home games in the playoffs.

Power forward David Lee missed the entirety of Golden State's first-round series against the Pelicans but is expected to return for Game 1 against the Grizzlies.

Memphis' major injury concern will be with Conley, who underwent surgery on a serious facial injury following Game 3 of the team's first-round series. Conley sat out the Grizzlies' last two games and is considered doubtful heading into the Western Conference Semifinals. If Conley makes his return to the court, he will do so wearing a protective mask on his face.

Before Golden State's Game 3 comeback against the Pelicans, the Warriors were 0-358 in franchise history when trailing by 20 points entering the fourth quarter.

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Grizzlies vs. Warriors: Series Preview

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