Basketball On The Internet.

THE `Splash Brothers’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson had a rare night where they couldn’t hit the ocean as Golden State Warriors lost at home for the first time since January in Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference semi  final.

Memphis’ stunning 97-90 win today at Oracle Arena gave the Warriors just their third home loss of the season and was inspired by Grizzlies’ guard Mike Conley playing with a mask to protect his injured face.

Inadvertently elbowed in the face 10 days ago during the first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Conley had surgery for three fractures around his left eye which still was red and swollen today.

Conley finished with a game-high 22 points off 8-12 shooting in 27 minutes, the Grizzlies in control for most of the contest.

“They deserved this win,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“They kicked our butts.”

While Conley clearly was the difference, the usually deadly Curry and Thompson made just 3-of-17 triples between them, en route to 19 and 13 points respectively.

Thompson even missed an easy dunk from a great pass from Aussie star Andrew Bogut.

Bogut had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, with an equal game-high 12 boards in 24 minutes, the series now heading to Memphis for Game 3 on Sunday, Australian time.

The Atlanta-Washington series also now is tied at 1-1 with Game 3 in the US capital on Sunday after the Hawks won at home 106-90 in their Eastern Conference semi final.

Just before tip-off the Wizards surprised by revealing All-Star guard John Wall would miss with an injured left hand. His absence was acute.

Top-seeded Atlanta  still struggled to break away from the Wizards until the fourth quarter, DeMarre Carroll with a game high 22 points, Kyle Korver 12 points on 4-of-11 3-point shooting.

Ramon Sessions stepped in for Wall with 21 points.

IT has been interesting to see how teams have responded to having key men missing.

Yesterday in Houston, the LA Clippers rose to the challenge of playing without Chris Paul – the architect of their 4-3 series elimination of reigning champion San Antonio – by upsetting the Rockets 117-101.

Blake Griffin produced another triple double with 26 points, 14 boards and 13 assists as six Clippers scored in double digits.

For the Rockets, Dwight Howard had a 22-point, 10-rebound double and James Harden 20 with 12 assists but the higher-seeded Houston generally disappointed.

Over in the East, the absence of Kevin Love and JR Smith was acute for Cleveland which dropped Game 1 of its semi final at home to Chicago 92-99.

Pau Gasol paired 21 points and 10 boards for the Bulls while Derrick Rose had 25. Kyrie Irving led the Cavs with 30 points, Matthew Dellavedova with five points and an assist in 18:44.

NBA 2014-15 PLAYOFFS

SEMI FINALS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State 101, Memphis 86
Memphis 97, Golden State 90
Series tied 1-1

Houston v L.A. Clippers
L.A. Clippers 117, Houston 101
L.A. Clippers lead 1-0

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington 104, Atlanta 98
Atlanta 106, Washington 90
Series tied 1-1

Cleveland v Chicago
Chicago 99, Cleveland 92
Chicago leads series 1-0

FIRST ROUND

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State 106, New Orleans 99
Golden State 97, New Orleans 87
Golden State 123, New Orleans 119, OT
Golden State 109, New Orleans 98
Golden State won series 4-0

Houston 118, Dallas 108
Houston 111, Dallas 99
Houston 130, Dallas 128
Dallas 121, Houston 109
Houston 103, Dallas 94
Houston won series 4-1

Memphis 100, Portland 86
Memphis 97, Portland 82
Memphis 115, Portland 109
Portland 99, Memphis 92
Memphis 99, Portland 93
Memphis won series 4-1

L.A. Clippers 107, San Antonio 92
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107, OT
San Antonio 100, L.A. Clippers 73
L.A. Clippers 114, San Antonio 105
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107
L.A. Clippers 102, San Antonio 96
L.A. Clippers 111, San Antonio 109
L.A. Clippers won series 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington 93, Toronto 86, OT
Washington 117, Toronto 106
Washington 106, Toronto 99
Washington 125, Toronto 94
Washington won series 4-0

Chicago 103, Milwaukee 91
Chicago 91, Milwaukee 82
Chicago 113, Milwaukee 106, 2OT
Milwaukee 92, Chicago 90
Milwaukee 94, Chicago 88
Chicago 120, Milwaukee 66
Chicago won series 4-2

Cleveland 113, Boston 100
Cleveland 99, Boston 91
Cleveland 103, Boston 95
Cleveland 101, Boston 93
Cleveland won series 4-0

Atlanta 99, Brooklyn 92
Atlanta 96, Brooklyn 91
Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 83
Brooklyn 120, Atlanta 115, OT
Atlanta 107, Brooklyn 97
Atlanta 111, Brooklyn 87
Atlanta won series 4-2