NBA

Interestingly, the one area in which Jackson struggled against the Warriors during the regular season was a position of strength on Tuesday. After shooting 3-of-18 from deep in four meetings, he was 4-of-9 on Tuesday. The issue was Jackson shooting 2-of-6 from two, a far cry from the 54.1 percent clip he shot during the regular season. Jackson will look to rebound on Friday when the Grizzlies host Dallas or Sacramento. The winner of Friday’s game will be the eighth seed in the West.

During the regular season, the Grizzlies went with Vince Williams Jr. as the fifth starter after losing Jaylen Wells to a fractured wrist. However, Pippen was the choice on Tuesday, with his inclusion shifting Ja Morant off the ball. Pippen was solid but not spectacular; we’ll see if the Grizzlies stick with this lineup when they host Dallas or Sacramento on Friday. Williams only played three minutes, going scoreless with one rebound and one assist.

While Morant committed five turnovers on Tuesday, the sprained right ankle he suffered during the third quarter was more concerning. The good news for the Grizzlies was that he returned after spending some time on the bench, ultimately logging 35 minutes. Following the game, TNT reported the Grizzlies would not X-ray Morant’s ankle. Next, we will see how Morant’s ankle responds after the team returns to Memphis. He should be considered questionable for Friday’s game against Dallas or Sacramento, with the winner receiving the eighth seed in the West.

After scoring at least 24 points in three of his last four regular-season appearances, Bane had another good night on Tuesday. It wasn’t enough to get Memphis into the playoffs, but they’ll have another opportunity to earn their way in on Friday against the Dallas/Sacramento winner. With Ja Morant spraining his right ankle during the third quarter, Bane may be in a position where he must do even more as a scorer than he did on Tuesday.

Green did not provide much value as a scorer, which is par for his course. But he was impactful in other ways, including recording a team-high 10 assists and four “stocks.” With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler leading the way offensively, Green’s mastery of the “little things” will be critical in Golden State’s first-round matchup with Houston. Game 1 is on Sunday night.

While his injured right thumb remains problematic, it did not keep Curry from showing up when it mattered most on Tuesday. The Warriors guard scored 15 of the team’s final 19 points, as Golden State avoided blowing a game they led by as much as 20. Curry shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc during the fourth quarter, and his two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining sealed the outcome. Golden State’s reward is much-needed time off and a matchup with the Rockets. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday in Houston.

Tuesday’s Play-In tournament matchup was not an official playoff game, but it was the Warriors fans’ official introduction to Butler as a postseason weapon. While he did not record the best free-throw percentage, racking up 18 attempts cannot be ignored. Butler has added a needed dimension to the Warriors on both ends of the floor, especially offensively. His ability to work out of the post and get to the foul line will be vital in the playoffs, which the Warriors will begin on Sunday in Houston in a 2/7 matchup.

One of the NBA’s best defenders, Daniels is in a position where his team also needs consistent offensive production. He struggled against the Magic, which is unsurprising based on what happened during the regular season. In three appearances against Orlando, Daniels averaged 11.7 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting. He’ll need to be much better on Friday night if the Hawks are to reach the postseason. Atlanta will host the winner of Wednesday’s game between Miami and Chicago on Friday, with the winner being the eighth seed in the East.

After sitting out Sunday’s regular-season finale, Okongwu had a minimal impact on Tuesday’s proceedings in Orlando. This performance was a far cry from his production in an April 8 loss to the Magic, in which the Hawks center went for 30 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Okongwu and the Hawks return home for another Play-In tournament game on Friday, as they’ll host the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between Miami and Chicago.