David Thorpe predicts Grizzlies at Warriors

Opportunity: Tired-looking Stephen Curry has been turning the ball over a lot

David Thorpe has been predicting winners in all the play-in games. Here’s what to expect for the final play-in game, Friday’s matchup between the Warriors and Grizzlies.

Grizzlies at Warriors

BY DAVID THORPE

David’s pick: Golden State has a 53% chance to win

We arrive at the final play-in game, Friday night’s Grizzlies at Warriors. The winner opens the playoffs as the eighth seed, on the road in Salt Lake City against the Jazz.

Sometimes what we think we will see in a game ends up not happening at all, sometimes it’s almost as if the players read a script and follow it word for word. 

• I thought the Grizzlies were better than the Spurs, and—over the course of 48 minutes—would slowly build an insurmountable lead. Instead they jumped on the Spurs and barely held on. 

• Then the much anticipated Warriors-Lakers tilt went exactly as scripted, two very even teams locked in a tussle, with the more connected Warriors controlling the action for a half before the veteran Lakers raised their energy level…