This will go down as one of the biggest spankings of the season. The Grizzlies crushed the Warriors in rare proportions, winning Thursday 144-93 in a match that was sometimes close to irrational. This setback could leave its mark, for the premiere of Dennis Schröder in his new colors.
The German was immediately integrated into the starting five, relegating Jonathan Kuminga, one of the Warriors' in-form men, to the bench, and scored his team's first basket. But only after Memphis had already taken an eight-point lead, with two balls lost by an already upside-down Draymond Green. The Grizzlies are rolling, even with Jaren Jackson Jr quickly on the bench for two fouls.
Golden State is overwhelmed on the slightest penetration towards the local circle, and the defensive assists only create new gaps for Taylor Jenkins' shooters. And they had a field day with seven baskets from distance in the first quarter, including three in the last 95 seconds of the period.
A maximum gap of 57 points
The Warriors are already on the ropes, trailing 37-15 after one quarter but the worst is yet to come. Because the Grizzlies do not take their foot off the accelerator and push it further at the slightest lower time from Steph Curry and company. The Golden State leader is muzzled and waits for the last two minutes of the second act to score his first points on free throws.
Opposite, Santi Aldama is having a great evening and alone scores as many points at the break as the entire Warriors five combined (16, including 12 for Andrew Wiggins alone). Ja Morant goes for his huge counter from behind on Draymond Green to close the one-sided first period: 69-38, +31.
The rest is just a long ordeal for Golden State. An agony whose only interest is to be able to give the starters a breather, sent to the bench 17 minutes from the end.
Memphis is still having fun, with an insolent success behind the arc (7/9 in the third quarter), helped, it is true, by the opponent's passivity. The Grizzlies don't even need Ja Morant, who was injured in the back at the start of the period, to continue to increase the gap. This took on humiliating proportions: +52 in the third quarter, rising to 57 units on a new 3-point shot, this time from Jake LaRavia. The damage is done, but Brandin Podziemski at least saves his family from further shame (16 points in “garbage time”).
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The Warriors below everything. This is not the first time that Golden State has exploded like this in recent years, like in Boston last season (140-88). Among the Celtics, Steve Kerr's men came across an irresistible team and quickly had to move on. This Thursday, the Bay franchise gave the baton to be beaten by its apathy in defense and its lack of overall rhythm. Steph Curry and Draymond Green combine 0/11 shooting, and Dennis Schröder did not weigh in for his debut (5 points at 2/12).
– The Grizzlies’ claw move. This time, Memphis didn't do too much. Rather than falling into “trashtalking”, Ja Morant's teammates remained aggressive and focused until the end on maintaining the pressure, without letting their emotions take over. This gives a franchise record with 27 3-point baskets scored (56.3% success rate) and total domination of the match.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
