Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks has been slammed after a series of head-scratching plays in an NBA playoff loss against the Golden State Warriors.
The Grizzlies, without injured All-Star guard Ja Morant, led for the majority of game four in San Francisco before the Warriors outscored them 39-29 in the fourth quarter to secure a 101-98 win and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Brooks, who was suspended for game three after a dirty play on Warriors guard Gary Payton Jr, returned to the Grizzlies’ starting line-up but proved to have a detrimental effect on his team.
READ MORE: Adam Reynolds’ family still privately seething at Souths over ‘biggest mistake’
READ MORE: ‘Disgusting’ Liz Cambage claim leaves Aussie basketball legend Andrew Gaze ropeable
READ MORE: Dusty Martin snub ignites fiery debate
The 26-year-old finished the game with 12 points, but made just five of his 19 field goal attempts while also committing four turnovers. He finished the game with the second-most shot attempts on the Grizzlies, behind Jaren Jackson Jr’s 21 shots.
With the Grizzlies looking to hold off a fourth-quarter comeback, Brooks took ill-advised shot after ill-advised shot, leaving those watching baffled as to why Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins allowed him to log 39 minutes.
“I’m baffled Taylor Jenkins played Dillon Brooks for 39 minutes,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote.
“What’s the point of having such a deep bench if you’re leaving a shot-chucker out there? There were other options. Brooks made so many terrible choices and shots that helped the Grizzlies lose a winnable game.”
O’Connor was far from the only one left staggered by Brooks’ play.
https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1523884437062230021https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba/status/1523882044362661888https://twitter.com/mollyhannahm/status/1523886288935563264https://twitter.com/netw3rk/status/1523878842745556992https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1523882053040631808https://twitter.com/TaylorRooks/status/1523878026622160896https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1523885201054568448
Stephen Curry converted eight free throws over the final 45.7 seconds on the way to 32 points, leading the Golden State Warriors’ fourth-quarter comeback.
Curry also dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds as Golden State rallied to win without coach Steve Kerr after he tested positive for COVID-19 less than two hours before tip-off.
Curry took charge just like he has so many times on the playoff stage and now his Warriors are one win from a trip to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2019. He tied it at 90 on a fall-away baseline jumper with 3:25 to go and his two free throws with 45.7 seconds to go gave the Warriors a 94-93 lead, their first of the night.
Tyus Jones had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in place of the injured Morant.
It remained unclear whether Morant would be back for game five on Thursday AEST in Memphis.