Grizzlies and Wizards make NBA Playoffs for 2021

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) waits for time to expire in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) ORG XMIT: TNBD

The Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards are in the NBA Playoffs for 2021. They reached the postseason by winning the final games of the play-in tournament, however, their victories came in dramatically different ways.

First, the Wizards defeated the Indiana Pacers in convincing fashion in the Eastern Conference play-in game on Thursday. They won the way they have won the majority of their games all season long. That is by scoring a lot of points, even though they give up a bucketload of points too. The Wizards beat the Pacers 142-115, thanks to a game-high 25 points from Bradley Beal.

What was possibly the biggest surprise of this game is not the fact that the Wizards scored 142 points, but that Russell Westbrook did not get a triple-double. He was limited to eight rebounds, along with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Wizards rebound leader was Daniel Gafford, who had 13 boards off the bench.

Meanwhile, in northern California on Friday, the Memphis Grizzlies needed overtime to beat the Golden State Warriors 117-112. Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 35 points. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 39 points, but it was not enough.

This means the Warriors season is done, and we will no longer see the crisp three-point shooting from Curry again in 2020-21. The Warriors all-star point guard led the NBA during the regular season with 32 points per game, 2015 total points, and 337 three points made.  

In the postseason, the Grizzlies and Wizards will be the eighth seed. The Grizzlies will play the Utah Jazz, and the Wizards will play the Philadelphia 76ers.

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