Warriors Edge Grizzlies in Thrilling Match
In a thrilling match on Monday night, the Golden State Warriors narrowly defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 114-113, thanks to a crucial layup by Gui Santos with only 19 seconds remaining in the game. This victory marked the Warriors’ ability to overcome a challenging situation, as they were missing star player Stephen Curry for the fourth consecutive game due to a persistent knee issue, which Coach Steve Kerr has confirmed will prevent him from participating in the upcoming All-Star Game.
Balanced Scoring Effort
The Warriors showcased a balanced scoring effort, with seven players achieving double digits. Leading the charge was Pat Spencer, who contributed 17 points and seven assists. Not far behind were Brandin Podziemski, Santos, and Al Horford, each finishing the game with 16 points, while Moses Moody added 15 points to the Warriors’ total. In an impactful first-half performance, Ty Jerome scored 14 of his 19 points early on, alongside distributing seven assists.
Grizzlies’ Bench Contributions
Despite this setback, Memphis saw significant contributions from its bench, with Jahmai Mashack scoring 17 points, Taylor Hendricks adding a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also scoring 15 points. The Grizzlies’ reserves tallied a total of 68 points, a figure that stands as the highest allowed by the Warriors’ defense to an opposing bench this season. However, Memphis has now lost three games in a row and nine of its last eleven.
Game Highlights
The match unfolded as the Warriors fought back from a halftime deficit, where they found themselves trailing 65-57 after an 11-4 run by the Grizzlies to close out the second quarter—highlighted by five quick points from Scotty Pippen Jr. Golden State clawed closer with De’Anthony Melton‘s layup reducing the deficit to three points late in the game, followed by a crucial basket from Moody that brought the score to 113-112.
In the final seconds, following a missed opportunity for the Grizzlies, Horford capitalized by stealing the ball and securing the victory for the Warriors, who had previously defeated Memphis in their earlier matchup this season.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will head to Denver for a showdown on Wednesday night, wrapping up a grueling five-game road trip, while the Warriors will return home to take on the San Antonio Spurs in their next contest.
Draymond Green also had an impressive performance, scoring 14 points and making four three-pointers, while moving past Latrell Sprewell to claim 14th place on the Warriors’ all-time scoring list.
