Danny Fortson posted season highs with 20 points and 22 rebounds and Chris Mills scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Warriors completed their best road trip in eight years with an 86-79 victory over winless Memphis.
 The Warriors' blond bombshell, Bob Sura, scored 12 points Monday. Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images from Warriors-Grizzlies: 56k | 300k |
The Warriors finished their first road trip of the season with three wins (3-1), marking the first time they won more than two games on the same trip since December 1993.
"We're feeling good now," Fortson said. "We know we can go out there and play well and get a road victory. What else can you ask for? It's all about winning, and when you win, it's definitely a different feeling in the locker room."
The Grizzlies have lost their first seven games to match the worst start in franchise history, also accomplished in 1996.
"It's hard when you play as hard as we play and still not get a win," said Lorenzen Wright, who had 19 points and 15 rebounds. "I'm sick of it. This was a winnable game."
Fortson made 7-of-13 shots from the floor and 6-of-7 from the line for Golden State, which also secured its first three-game winning streak since Jan. 27-Feb. 4, 2000.
Mills came off the bench and made 4-of-5 shots in the final 12 minutes, including a huge three-pointer as the shot clock expired, building a 76-68 lead with 5:19 left.
"I normally don't play him that much," coach Dave Cowens said. "But you gotta go with the people that are producing for you, and that's the name of a team game. He made some tough shots. Everytime we ran a play for him, he produced."
"My shot has been feeling good the whole season so far," Mills added. "They were looking for me ... so when I had some space for a good shot, I was taking it."
Mills led an excellent effort by the Warriors' bench, which outscored the starting lineup, 46-40. Bob Sura scored 12 points and Adonal Foyle added eight, five rebounds and three blocks.
"We needed to come out as veteran guys coming off the bench, trying to give our team a little life," Mills said. "Because the starters came out and were playing hard but were kind of flat."
Antawn Jamison and guard Larry Hughes, the team's leading scorers through the season's first seven games, had just four points each and combined to make 4-of-16 shots.
Lorenzen Wright recorded his sixth double-double of the season and rookie Pau Gasol added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a season-high four blocks for Memphis.
Golden State had a 47-38 lead at halftime, but the Grizzlies opened the second half with a 15-5 run and took the lead with 6:10 to go on a layup by rookie Shane Battier, who scored five of his 11 points in the third quarter.
Memphis took a 60-56 lead on a free throw by Wright with 3:03 left, but the Warriors scored the final seven points of the third, taking the lead for good on a jumper by Fortson with 90 seconds to go.
Golden State had a 63-60 lead heading into the fourth and led, 81-73, with 1:48 left before Gasol made consecutive baskets to cut the lead in half with 39 seconds remaining.
The Warriors made just 5-of-8 free throws in the final 37 seconds, but Memphis was unable to capitalize, making just one of its last five shots.
Both teams were awful at the line. Golden State made just 64 percent (14-of-22) of its free throws while the Grizzlies made only 63 percent (17-of-27).
"That's the mental part of the game," Wright said. "We missed too many free throws and it cost us the game. It's a total team effort, but no one is doing what they're supposed to do. Nobody is stepping up."
Jason Williams had 13 points and 10 assists for his first double-double with Memphis, but he made just 4-of-15 shots from the floor and 4-of-8 from the line.