Game Preview: Warriors at Grizzlies - 3/18/23

FINAL BACK-TO-BACK OF THE SEASON
After falling short in Atlanta on Friday, the Warriors will play their third of five straight road games on Saturday at Memphis. The fourth and final meeting between the two clubs, and second in the last 10 days in Memphis, will close out the Dubs’ 15^th and final back-to-back set of the season. The Dubs have swept three back-to-backs this season, split six times and have been swept five times.

The Warriors have won two of their previous three games against Memphis this season, but the home team has won each of those games. Most recently, the Dubs suffered a 131-110 loss in Memphis on March 9, a game in which the Grizzlies scored 48 first quarter points. That defeat was part of the Warriors’ current 10-game road losing streak, and they will look to snap that skid in what is sure to be another raucous environment in Memphis.

LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors nearly came back from a nine-point deficit, but multiple shots to go ahead in the final minutes rimmed out and the Hawks scored the final seven points of the game to hand the Dubs a 127-119 loss in Atlanta on Friday. Stephen Curry had 31 points to lead the Dubs and both Kevon Looney (18 points, 16 rebounds) and Klay Thompson (15 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the job done in Atlanta. » Full Game Recap

PREVIOUS GAME STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney
MEM: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman

INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Andre Iguodala (left wrist; fracture), Gary Payton II (right adductor soreness), Ryan Rollins (right foot surgery) and Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons) are out. Team Notes
MEM: Ja Morant (league suspension), Steven Adams (sprained PCL - right knee), Brandon Clarke (torn left Achilles) and Vince Williams Jr. (right shoulder soreness) are out. Jake LaRavia (Back; Soreness) is questionable. Team Notes

ROAD STRUGGLES
One of the storylines defining the Warriors’ season has been the team’s difference in play when on the road vs. home. The Dubs are 29-7 at Chase Center this season – only the Nuggets have more home wins – against 7-28 on the road. Only the Spurs and Rockets have worse road records than the defending Champions this season, but only a total of 1.0 games separate the road records for those three squads. Offense is not the issue, as their overall scoring efficiently is comparable at home (115.7 points per 100 possessions) and on the road (112.5). But defensively, it is a completely different story. The Dubs yield 12.5 more points on the road (124.2 opp ppg) than they do at home (111.7). Particularly, the Dubs have struggled defending the perimeter on the road. Warriors opponents are shooting 40.8 percent on 3-pointers on their home hardwood, which is the second worst opponent 3-point percentage in the NBA. Compare that to the Dubs 3-point defense at home, where their 34.2 opponent 3-point field goal percentage is the league-best. The Warriors certainly struggled defensively on Friday in Atlanta, but they are getting their defensive anchor back on Saturday, as Draymond Green is expected to play after serving a one-game suspension on Friday.

MEMPHIS SCOUTING REPORT
Like the Warriors, the Grizzlies will be playing on the back end of a back-to-back after visiting the Spurs on Friday. Tied for second place in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies have won four of their last five games, including a thrilling Friday night victory in San Antonio in which Memphis overcame a nine-point deficit in the final minute of regulation. At home, the Grizzlies have won seven straight and are 28-5 overall, which is the second-best home record in the NBA. Although they are playing without the suspended Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have plenty of experience playing – and winning – their superstar guard. Going back to last season, Memphis is 28-13 without Morant in the lineup. The Grizzlies have one of the top defenses in the NBA, ranking second overall in defensive rating and first in opponent shooting percentage. Jarrett Jack is one of the NBA’s top defenders, and he provides matchup problems on the other end with his ability to stretch the floor. They lead the NBA in points in the paint, a category certainly boosted by Morant’s explosive athletic ability, but the team has several players who can shoot it from deep as well, which was proven on Friday when three different players made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the fourth quarter, including Dillon Brooks, whose clutch splash with 1.1 seconds left forced overtime.