SAN FRANCISCO — The play call was in.
Santi Aldama set to inbound the ball for the Memphis Grizzlies with 5.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors. Memphis trailed by three points and didn’t have a timeout remaining, so it needed a 3-pointer.
The seconds ticked. Aldama waited for Desmond Bane to flare to the corner after a screen from Jaren Jackson Jr. Jimmy Butler III took a quick step to the middle of the floor, and Bane raised his arms as he headed towards the corner.
Aldama didn’t feel as if he had a clean look. By the time he looked to pass the ball in to Ja Morant, the official had blown the whistle and signaled a five-second violation.
And just like that, any hopes of winning in front of a sellout road crowd at Chase Center had decimated for the Grizzlies on Tuesday. Golden State made two free throws and Memphis fell 121-116 in a play-in game between the No.7 and No. 8 seeds.
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Memphis will now play at home on Friday against the winner of a game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
No game ever comes down to one play. There were turnovers, missed assignments and missed free throws that all resulted in Memphis needing a 3-pointer in those last five seconds. However, that play will be one that’s remembered.
“Desmond was the first option on that,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “There was a small window for that. I think Jimmy Butler made a small defensive error. (Kevon) Looney was on top of it, did a good job right there. There was a small window, but it’s difficult because you can see Butler hesitating for a second there and that was the window to throw the pass. We didn’t and after this, they were in perfect position to take out the second options.”
What Santi Aldama saw
As Iisalo stated, Aldama’s first option was Bane. Much of the time during the five-second violation ticked off as Aldama waited for Bane to flare to the corner.
Morant was the closest Grizzlies player to the ball, but he was tightly guarded by Gary Payton II before attempting to enter Aldama’s line of vision. Payton’s defense was physical, and Morant had to work hard to break free.
“It wasn’t coming to me, anyway,” Morant. “I was the decoy.”
Jackson set the screen for Bane. Luke Kennard was to Aldama’s left, flashing under the basket and toward the corner near the Grizzlies bench.
The play wasn’t a new one for Memphis. The Grizzlies have run a similar variation of that play for Bane at the start of games and after timeouts throughout the season. However, the look wasn’t as clean for Aldama.
“I didn’t think anybody was open, really,” Aldama said. “And I thought it was a quick five seconds, but tough one.”
Now or never
There isn’t much time for Memphis to dwell on that play. Friday’s game at FedExForum will be a must-win if Memphis wants to keep its season alive.
For Morant, the message is implied.
“The season will be over if you don’t,” Morant said. “It’s simple.”
Tuesday was the latest in a series of frustrating results over the past two months. Far too many times, the Grizzlies have battled, but not been able to get over the hump against quality opponents.
Memphis fell behind by as many as 20 points in the first half before rallying back and taking a brief lead in the fourth quarter.
At this point of the season, it’s too late for moral victories. Memphis has another chance on Friday to get over the proverbial hump.
“Tonight will definitely be tough,” Bane said. “Get on that plane tomorrow, play some cards, get some good vibes going and just flip the page.”
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
