Grizzlies Playoff Hopes Dim as Santi Aldama Struggles Against Warriors in Heartbreaking Play-In Loss

While one European player successfully led his team to the NBA Playoffs, with Franz Wagner playing a key role in the Orlando Magic’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In tournament, the same cannot be said for Santi Aldama.

The Spanish forward experienced disappointment with the Memphis Grizzlies, who fell 121-116 to the Golden State Warriors. Aldama recorded a performance of 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in the losing effort.

Notably, he was unable to complete an inbound pass with his team down by three points and just 5.1 seconds remaining on the clock, resulting in a five-second violation for the Grizzlies.

In the next sequence, Steph Curry sealed the win for Golden State by making crucial free throws.

Jimmy Butler (38 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Steph Curry (37 points, including 6-of-13 from three-point range) combined to score 75 points in Golden State’s triumph over Memphis.

Butler, a former guard for the Miami Heat, highlighted the advantage of playing alongside the greatest shooter in history, playing a vital role in reaching the First Round to face the Houston Rockets as the West’s 7th seed.

“I believe any team stands a chance with me on it. But I’m fully aware that every team has a shot with Steph [Curry] on board. I get to play Robin. That’s my Batman,” he remarked.

The Memphis Grizzlies will now wait to see who emerges victorious from the Dallas-Sacramento matchup, as they aim for a spot in the Western Conference First Round as the 8th seed, where they would meet the Oklahoma City Thunder.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images

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