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Santa Cruz Grizzlies 68-19 (1-3)

Minnesota Muskies 72-17 (3-1)

Game 1 – ​If you wanted a heavyweight matchup to open the Western Conference Finals, you couldn’t have asked for anything better than the league’s two best regular-season teams—and tonight, Santa Cruz delivered the first haymaker. The Minnesota Muskies entered The Barn at 68-14, the league’s best record, and having won three of four meetings with the 64-18 Grizzlies during the regular season, but those numbers meant very little once the ball went up. Santa Cruz jumped ahead early and repeatedly answered every Minnesota challenge, taking a 58-45 lead into halftime behind the spectacular play of Michael Adams. Adams was magnificent, scoring 25 points while handing out 12 assists, collecting six steals and making six of his nine field-goal attempts, earning Game MVP honors in one of the biggest performances of his season. Minnesota’s Larry Bird kept the Muskies within striking distance with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Charles Barkley added 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, but Santa Cruz simply refused to surrender control. The Grizzlies’ backcourt was sensational, as Hersey Hawkins added 19 points and Dan Majerle contributed 13 points, five steals and five rebounds, while Shawn Kemp came off the bench to explode for 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Then came Minnesota’s third-quarter push, as the Muskies outscored Santa Cruz 30-29 and continued to chip away, but every time the home team threatened to make this a one-possession game, the Grizzlies found an answer. Minnesota actually managed to pull within nine at 95-86 with just over five minutes remaining, but Adams came right back with a three-point fastbreak play, and Santa Cruz steadied itself when the pressure was at its absolute highest. The final numbers tell the story: Santa Cruz shot a remarkable 56.9 percent, scored 26 fastbreak points to Minnesota’s eight, and forced the normally sure-handed Muskies into 34 turnovers while coming up with 20 steals. So after four regular-season meetings that favored Minnesota three games to one, the opening chapter of this Western Conference Finals has been rewritten—the Santa Cruz Grizzlies have stolen home court with a 104-95 victory, and suddenly the league’s best team is the one looking for answers.

Game 2 – ​The defending champion Minnesota Muskies have answered the bell, and what a response it was, roaring back from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat the Santa Cruz Grizzlies, 127-120, and even the Western Conference Finals at one game apiece. Santa Cruz came out looking every bit like the team that stunned Minnesota in Game One, racing to a 36-25 first-quarter lead and stretching the margin to 19 early in the second. But then Larry Bird went to work, and when the defending champions needed their superstar most, he delivered, pouring in 31 points on an extraordinary 12-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three-point range. The Grizzlies still led 65-58 at halftime, but the tide had turned, and Minnesota stormed ahead in a wild third quarter before taking a 96-89 advantage into the final period. Santa Cruz refused to go quietly, however, with Michael Adams and the Grizzlies clawing all the way back to tie the game at 116 with 2:53 remaining. Then came the championship experience of Minnesota, as Charles Barkley, Robert Parish and Bird combined to close the door on the comeback. Barkley finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Parish added 18 points and 11 boards, giving Minnesota a devastating interior presence when it mattered most. Adams was sensational for Santa Cruz with 30 points and 12 assists, but the Grizzlies simply could not withstand Minnesota’s closing surge. Game One belonged to Santa Cruz; Game Two belongs to Minnesota—and now this Western Conference Finals is exactly where you want it: tied at one game apiece, with everything still to play for.

Game 3 – The Muskies dominate the opening 7 minutes of the game and build a 12-point lead early, but give it back and lead 31-29 after one quarter. They control the 2nd frame and stretch the lead to 16 on way to a 14-point halftime lead 62-48. The third period is a different story as Santa Cruz dominates and erases a 16-point lead and take a 2-point lead 87-85.  Minnesota closed the period on a 5-0 run and lead 90-87. Back and forth early in the 4th quarter, SCG leads with 8 minutes left. MNM bursts and survives SCG trying to extend the game by hitting their FT’s. MNM 129 SCG 118.

Game 4 – Like game 3, The Muskies dominate early taking a 13-2 lead. Also like game 3, Santa Cruz storms back and takes a 38-36 lead after 1Q. Santa Cruz ups the lead to 17 points with 7 minutes to play in 2Q. The Muskies fight back cutting the lead to 8 but Santa Cruz maintains control of the game and leads by 10 at the half, 73-63. Searching for answers, The Muskies dial up the D and run away with the 3Q by a score of 31-15 and lead 94-88 going into the final frame. The Grizzlies cut the lead to 3 with 11 minutes to play but the Muskies keep them at bay and continue to hold a lead b/w 6-9 points. Grizzlies put the pressure on and close to within 4 with 3 minutes to play.  However, Minnesota hits their free throws late and withstand the late comeback. Muskies comeback from 17 down to win 133-124 in a game with 62 fouls called.

Game 5 – The Santa Cruz Grizzlies walked into The Barn with their backs against the wall, trailing Minnesota three games to one and facing the end of their Western Conference Finals dream. But from the opening tip, the Grizzlies played like a team that had no intention of going home quietly, exploding to a 41–27 first-quarter advantage and never looking back. Michael Adams was sensational, scoring 24 points while handing out 20 assists, grabbing three steals and directing an offense that shot a remarkable 61.8 percent from the field. Hersey Hawkins added 25 points, while Armon Gilliam delivered 23 and Pervis Ellison chipped in 17, as Santa Cruz turned the paint into its personal playground with an astonishing 80 points inside. Minnesota tried to answer behind Charles Barkley, who was nearly flawless at 9-of-10 shooting for 23 points, but the defending VBA champions simply could not slow the Grizzlies’ relentless attack. Larry Bird finished with 18 points, eight assists and four steals, yet Santa Cruz repeatedly turned Minnesota turnovers and missed opportunities into lightning-fast transition baskets. The Grizzlies carried a 76–56 advantage into halftime, and when Adams pushed the margin to 87–64 early in the third, the message was unmistakable: tonight belonged to Santa Cruz. Minnesota made a spirited run late in the third quarter, with Barkley and Danny Ainge helping trim the deficit, but every time the Muskies threatened, the Grizzlies answered with another basket. By the fourth quarter, Santa Cruz had stretched the lead back beyond 20, and the final horn sounded on a stunning 138–119 victory, keeping the Grizzlies alive and forcing the series back into contention. It was a complete team performance, highlighted by 35 assists, 13 steals and 30 fastbreak points, but on this night in The Barn, Michael Adams was the maestro—and the Grizzlies had earned themselves another game.

Game 6 – ​The defending VBA Champion Minnesota Muskies came to Kaiser Permanente Arena with a championship pedigree and left Santa Cruz with another trip to the VBA Finals, defeating the upstart Grizzlies 122–100 to win the Western Conference Finals four games to two. From the opening tip, Minnesota played with the urgency of a champion, exploding to a 31–19 first-quarter lead and never looking back. Charles Barkley was simply magnificent, pouring in 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including two three-pointers, while adding nine rebounds to earn Game MVP honors. Larry Bird added 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Robert Parish dominated the interior with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots. The Muskies shot a remarkable 52.9 percent from the field, and their precision was matched by a 46–35 advantage on the boards. Santa Cruz battled gamely, with Michael Adams scoring 19 points and Hersey Hawkins adding 17, but the Grizzlies simply could not overcome Minnesota’s early avalanche. The Muskies stretched the margin to 27 points at one stage, turning what had been a promising postseason run for Santa Cruz into a final chapter for the young franchise. Minnesota’s defense also made life miserable for the Grizzlies, forcing difficult shots and limiting Santa Cruz to 45.9 percent shooting while the Muskies controlled the tempo from start to finish. There were no lead changes after Minnesota seized control, and the only tie of the evening came before the Muskies began their decisive first-quarter charge. And so, in the glow of another Western Conference triumph, the Minnesota Muskies had done it again—122–100 winners, a 4–2 series victory, and one step away from defending their VBA championship.

Series MVP – TBD
pts, reb, ast, blk, stl