In a matchup featuring the team with the league’s best defensive rating (Memphis, 99.9) and the team with the NBA’s best offensive rating (Golden State, 115.1), a shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies came out on top and extended their winning streak to six as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-89 in a blowout win at FedExForum on Saturday night.
Memphis outscored Golden State from the start of the game, posting 31 points in the first quarter to the Warriors’ 16, and held Golden State to a season-low 38 points at the half. Ahead by as many as 30 points early in the second half, the Grizzlies held on to the lead within the first two minutes of the night and led the rest of the game. Memphis’ 30-point lead is the largest by any team against the Warriors this season and a season high for the Grizzlies.
Led by Tony Allen and Marc Gasol’s 19 points each, all five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures with Troy Williams and Andrew Harrison each posting 11 points. JaMychal Green recorded his fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Green connected on both of his shots from beyond the arc, marking his fifth career game with multiple three-point field goals made.
Snapping Golden State’s eight-game road winning streak, the Grizzlies held the Warriors to only 89 points, 30.3 below their season average of 119.3 points per game. As the Warriors struggled to control the ball, Memphis scored 20 points off of Golden State’s 23 turnovers while the Warriors only connected on nine points off of Memphis’ 12. The Grizzlies also held the Warriors to only 15 assists, where Golden State entered the game averaging a league-high 31.8 assists per game. This is the first game this season where the Warriors registered fewer than 24 assists. Memphis also held a significant advantage from the charity stripe, making 26-of-29 of their free throws, while the Warriors only connected on 12-of-20 from the line.
Warriors forward Kevin Durant posted a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds, shooting 50.0 percent from three-point range. Averaging 22.0 points per game this season, Klay Thompson was held scoreless in the first and last quarters and missed all three of his field goals from beyond the arc. Thompson finished the game with a season-low eight points in 31 minutes. Two other Warriors scored in double figures with Stephen Curry contributing 17 points and Ian Clark posting 10 points off the bench.
Next Game
The Grizzlies hit the road on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. CT to take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena. Tune in to FOX Sports Southeast presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners to catch all the action or listen on 92.9 FM ESPN.
Next Home Game
The Grizzlies will return home Wednesday, December 14 to face Cavaliers once again. Catch all the action live at FedExForum, watch on FOX Sports Southeast presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, or listen on 92.9 FM ESPN.
Key Stat of the Night
- The Memphis Grizzlies, who entered tonight with the best defensive rating in the NBA (99.9), shut down the Golden State Warriors, who came into tonight with the league’s top offensive rating (115.1) and highest winning percentage (.870).
- Memphis held Golden State to a season-low 89 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field (34-77 FG)... Before tonight, the Warriors had not scored fewer than 97 points in any game this season and were averaging a NBA-best 119.3 points per game.
- The Grizzlies limited the Warriors to just 15 assists… Golden State entered the game averaging an NBA-best 31.8 assists per game and had recorded at least 30 assists in 16 games of their 23 games entering tonight, including two games with at least 40 assists… The Warriors, who had not registered fewer than 24 assists in a game before tonight, had more turnovers (23) than assists for the first time this season.
Key Run of the Night
- Leading 7-5 with 9:38 remaining in the first quarter, Memphis went on a 22-6 burst, scoring nine straight at the end of the run, to take an 18-point lead (29-11) with 2:13 left in the period.
- Memphis went on a 16-2 run bridging the second and third quarters, including seven straight to start the second half, turning a 23-point halftime lead into a 30-point advantage (68-38) with 10:53 left in the third… Memphis’ 30-point lead marked the highest for the Grizzlies and by a Warriors opponent this season (previous: -29 by San Antonio on Oct. 25 vs. San Antonio).
More Game Shots
Team Quotes
On getting the win
I think we did a good job keeping their crowd out of the game for the most part. I think our crowd won and we didn’t let their fans get too excited throughout the game. That was a positive and I thought they never could get a hold of us. Could never get three or four possessions where they get a good run, they get confidence and I thought we did that obviously with defense. Obviously we played defense with our offense a little bit too, we never got a little too far ahead of ourselves. We controlled the tempo pretty well and it was pretty good
-- Marc Gasol
Player Notes
- Marc Gasol finished with 19 points (6-12 FG, 1-3 3P, 6-7 FT) and eight rebounds to go with a game-high six assists and two blocks… Gasol stated his case for the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week Award, recording 27.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.50 blocks while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from three-point range and 76.7 percent from the free throw line, leading the Grizzlies to a 4-0 record.
- Gasol’s week also included his second career triple-double (28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) on Dec. 5 at New Orleans; 26 points and a season-high 12 rebounds on Dec. 6 vs. Philadelphia; and a season-high 36 points on Dec. 8 vs. Portland.
- Tony Allen tied a season-high with 19 points.
- JaMychal Green posted his fifth consecutive double-double (the 11th of his career) with 14 points and 10 rebounds (to go with a +26 plus-minus) in 29 minutes… Green has averaged 10.8 points and 13.6 rebounds during this five-game stretch.
- Seven different Grizzlies scored in double figures, the first time that has happened this season.
- Stephen Curry scored 17 points (4-14 FG, 3-11 3P, 6-6 FT) tonight… Curry has scored in double figures in all 24 games this season, including 20 games of at least 20 points, seven games of at least 30 points and one 40-point performance… He scored 46 points in Golden State’s last meeting against Memphis on April 13, 2016, the most points ever scored by a Warriors player against the Grizzlies.
- Klay Thompson was held to a season-low eight points (4-14 FG, 0-3 3P) in 31 minutes… Thompson was held without a three-pointer for just the fourth time this season.