SAN FRANCISCO – Memphis Grizzlies are heading to the playoffs due to Ja Morant He achieved the most important moment of his young career.

The 21-year-old scored 35 points, scored six rebounds and provided six assists in a superb 117-112 extra-time victory over the Golden State Warriors. Not only did the victory give Grizzlies an eighth and final place in the Western Conference Qualifiers, but it gave Morant the added advantage of knocking out the two best players. Stephen Curry And a proud group of warriors in the process.

With the Grizzlies clung to a 110–109 lead at the end of extra time, Morant struck two back-to-back floats, including one 4.5 seconds before the match. He had 15 points total in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Grizzlies’ victory in this year’s final is one of the most important events in the franchise’s recent history, especially since many in the league had expected Curry to lead their team beyond the season. Memphis returns to the qualifiers for the first time in four seasons and will play Utah Jazz in the first match of the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Whenever the Grizzlies need to stage a play, Morant or one of his other young teammates raises the occasion Friday night. Memphis took a 13-point lead early in the first half, rising to 17 in the second half before the furious Raleigh Warriors in the second half cleared the lead and pushed the match into extra time. Forward from warriors, Diamond Green, Had a chance to win the match when the bell rang, but missed a float when organizational time ran out.

Once overtime came, the Grizzlies guarded, Grayson Allen, And hit several shots, followed by Xavier Tillman, Who hit a triple pointer on a 1:20 scale gave the Grizzlies the lead and cleared the way for Morant’s knob in the last minute.

What makes this particular victory even sweeter for Morant and Grizzlies is that it came just five days after the Warriors were defeated inside Chase Center to win the No. 8 seed heading to Play-In. The loss forced the Grizzlies back to Memphis for an elimination match against San Antonio Spurs and then had to return to the Gulf to face Curry and the Warriors again.

Morant’s championships aside, it was the powerful defense that the Grizzlies played throughout the night that helped them achieve victory. The Warriors finished 21 transformations, including 13 from Carey and Green.

In a season when Curry always seemed to have an answer for his squad, it was Morant who laughed most recently on Friday night.