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Former Kentucky Basketball Players Shine in Saturday’s Playoff Games

By Jared DeRossett

Apr 22, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison (5) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the first half in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison (5) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the first half in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Two former Kentucky basketball players shine in Saturday’s NBA Playoffs first round games.

Recently, Kentucky Basketball has been said to be producing underwhelming talent when it comes to the postseason in the NBA (*cough cough* Colin Cowherd). In comes John Wall and Andrew Harrison. Saturday, in what proved to be an exciting day of basketball, these two former Cats shined.

John Wall vs. Atlanta Hawks, Game 3

The fourth-seeded Wizards went into Atlanta with a 2-0 series lead. This game was one that the Hawks absolutely needed to win, and the Wizards seemed like they weren’t ready. The Wizards trailed for the entire game, with the largest deficit being 25 points. The final score ended up being 116-98, and the Hawks brought the series to 2-1.

Despite all of this, John Wall was electric once again. His performance thus far in the playoffs has begun to become expected. In Game Three, John Wall had 29 points and seven assists, shooting 10-12 from the field. Wall only played 32 minutes in the game, essentially playing under three quarters, due to the deficit. He broke out another highlight-reel play though, a jaw-dropping fastbreak dunk:

Monday, the Wizards look to avenge their loss and take a 3-1 series lead in Atlanta Monday, April 24 at 8:00 PM on TNT.

Andrew Harrison vs. San Antonio Spurs, Game 4

In what was the best game of the night, Memphis took down San Antonio to tie the series at 2-2. In an overtime thriller that ended with a Marc Gasol buzzer beater, Kentucky had a former player step up in a clutch moment. With a two-point lead in overtime, the Spurs were on a fast break that would potentially tie the game. Then this happened:

This block led to an and-one that gave the Grizzlies a five point lead. Harrison finished the game with seven points and three rebounds in 20 minutes of action. He has made a case for himself to be a reliable player so far this offseason. The Grizzlies will look to take a 3-2 series lead as they travel back to San Antonio on Tuesday.

Next: 5 Coaches that Could Follow John Calipari at Kentucky

Be sure to cheer on your favorite teams in the NBA Playoffs, but most importantly, cheer on your favorite former Wildcat

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