The best game of the playoffs happened late Saturday night in Memphis as the Grizzlies and Spurs played an instant classic in Game 4 of their first round series, with Memphis edging out San Antonio on a Marc Gasol buzzer-beater in overtime. While Gasol had the final bucket, the game was dominated by Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard.
Conley finished the game with 35 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Leonard put up 43 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Their duel heated up in the fourth quarter as Conley had 11 points in the final period, while Leonard scored all 16 of his fourth quarter points in the final 4:06 of the fourth quarter to drag the Spurs back into the game. Leonard’s fadeaway mid-range bucket with 12 seconds to play gave the Spurs a 2-point edge, but Conley had the answer with a contested floater in the lane to force overtime.
In overtime, Kawhi did his best to carry the Spurs to the win with eight points in the overtime period, but Conley’s Grizzlies outlasted Leonard’s furious effort for the win. If you happened to miss the incredible action in Memphis on Saturday night, the NBA has you covered with a full highlight tape of Leonard and Conley’s fourth quarter and overtime performances.
After the Grizzlies got blasted in the two games in San Antonio, many assumed this series would go quickly in favor of the Spurs, but after two gritty wins in Memphis, the series is now tied at 2-2 going back to Texas and the Grizzlies suddenly have new life.
