MEMPHIS — A budding rivalry has turned into a brawl. Competitive juices have become a geyser of hostility.
That series, which tied 1-1 and went back to the Chase Center, has gotten fiery.
“There’s a code in this league,” said a seething Steve Kerr after the Golden State Warriors lost Game 2 106-101. “A code that players follow. You never jeopardized a man’s season/career. Knocking out someone in mid-air and hitting them on the head.
“Dillon Brooks cracked the code.”
It took less than three minutes for the promised physicality to emerge. The Grizzlies, trailing 1-0 in their building, were desperate. They hadn’t capitalized on the Warriors in Game 1, although Draymond Green was kicked out for a flagrant 2-foul. Kerr said earlier in the day that his team would face the most physical test of the season.
“They’re after us,” Kerr predicted.
He was right. The Grizzlies channeled the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys of the late 1980s and made the game a game changer from the start.
Ja Morant (12) starts jumping and dancing late in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 106-101 in Game 2 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at the Fedex Forum in Memphis, Tenn. Tuesday, May 3 2022.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
After 2:52 of the first quarter, Gary Payton II went up for a layup and Memphis guard Brooks hit him over the head, sending him to the floor where he lay for several minutes. Replays of the foul caused the Memphis crowd to gasp at its severity.
Official Scott Foster quickly decided a flagrant 2 and knocked Brooks out of the game. Unlike Green’s foul two days earlier, there was no gray area in this decision.
“It was dirty,” Kerr said flatly.
Seconds later, Green was also face down as play resumed after catching an accidental elbow against his face. The crowd rained down boos on him as he lay and continued as he got up, bloodied in the face, and headed to the locker room. On his way, Green showed the crowd the double bird.
“You’re going to boo someone who gets elbowed and has blood running down their face?” Green said after the game, one eye nearly swollen shut. “You should freak out. You will be so angry, I can be angry too.”
This series has gone bad. Three starters are missing in the first three minutes of Game 2, one through ejection, two injured. Minutes later, Stephen Curry had blood on his hand. Bodies hitting the ground. players scold.
The energy in the building was desperate, angry. Green was loudly booed during the introductions and throughout the game.
“He loves to play the bad guy,” Kerr said earlier in the day.
Now there’s a villain on the other side, as Brooks will find out when he arrives at the Chase Center. Which may be a while longer if Brooks gets a league suspension in addition to being kicked out.
This was a growing rivalry. Memphis has become a poor matchup for the Warriors, knocking them out of the play-in round a year ago. This season, the Grizzlies finished ahead of the Warriors, and you knew this series was going to be competitive, physical, and full of trash talk.
There was applause. Jaren Jackson Jr. hailed a late-season win over the Warriors by tweeting a photo of Kevon Looney being dunked and the sarcastic caption, “Strength in numbers.” Brandon Clarke, the player who was fouled when Green was called out to a blatant 2 in Game 1, spoke about Green after the game. The Grizzlies are proud and believe their time has come.
Jordan Poole (3) battles with Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of the second round of the NBA playoffs at the Fedex Forum in Memphis, Tenn. , on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
Maybe it has. Yes Morant is a superstar, and his 47 points – 18 in the fourth quarter – Tuesday night was more than what Klay Thompson and Curry had combined. This team has an atmosphere and energy reminiscent of the early days of the Warriors dynasty.
But the warriors are not ready to pass the baton. They compete with the youngsters with everything they have.
“It’s in our DNA. We know what to do,” Curry said. “A game like that, possession here, possession there, you feel like you should win this one. We are ready to recover and make the necessary adjustments.”
After two games, with fouls and throws, blood and boos, anger and emotion, this series is livelier than some predicted.
“That’s the playoffs,” Curry said. “A lot of adversity, adrenaline and emotions and back and forth. I just have to win four games somehow.”
The loss of Payton is particularly heartbreaking as he is not only the Warriors’ best defender on Morant, but has also become a valued member of the team. His teammates love his history, love his tenacity, and now Payton could be stripped of his continued playoff experience pending an MRI of his fractured elbow in the Bay Area.
“This is a guy who’s been struggling for the last six years, trying to make it in this league and finally found a home,” Kerr said. “He’s just playing his ass off this year, he’s in the playoffs. This should be the time of his life.”
The game was another good game and the Warriors kept it tight despite shooting 18.4% from 3-point range, having questionable shot selection and committing 18 turnovers. They leave Memphis with the split they need knowing they’ll be returning here for a Game 5 on Wednesday. This could be a long series.
Nobody should be surprised. The Grizzlies are a worthy opponent. And a bad one at that.
Ann Killion is a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @annkillion