ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — This is a continuation of the halftime recap
The Warriors took a 56-54 lead into halftime.
Q3: Can’t Shake ‘Em!
Klay Thompson buoyed the Warriors’ offense at the start of the second half, getting things off the ground with a long two-pointer, then a three from the top of the key, and another one from the right wing to hold off the Grizzlies, 64-61, with 8:33 remaining.
With 7:37 to play, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opted for Matt Barnes to replace Zaza Pachulia, which meant a matchup at center between Zach Randolph and Draymond Green.
Several possessions later, Mike Conley missed a three badly that caromed off the board towards the courtside seats. Green gave chase, tapped the ball back in court with Stephen Curry and Thompson already in stride for the break, and Curry found Thompson easily for the layup.
Barnes drained a triple, then out of a timeout, got a cut rewarded by Draymond, plus another lefty scoop on another cut, but Vince Carter hit a catch-and-fade trey to keep the Warriors within striking distance, 73-69.
Carter also parted the Red Sea as Barnes got lost on an assignment. The forty-year-old “VC” soared in for a slam, but was matched soon thereafter with Andre Iguodala got the step on Conley and delivered a hammer:
[protected-iframe id=”ced82f696f5c92b092fd760559d6b4a4-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FKNBR%2Fstatus%2F846179380543942657″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″] [protected-iframe id=”49195ef40d72e6d8be3780f34cb0552e-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FCSNWarriors%2Fstatus%2F846177918313103360″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″]But Troy Daniels and Conley hit improbable triples, with Curry getting a step-back jumper near the quarter horn over Brandan Wright, and the Warriors took a slim 83-81 lead into the final frame.
Q4: Conley Grizzlies’ Only Answer
Once again, Klay got the Warriors off on the right foot to start the fourth period with a triple on a cross-court pass from Iguodala…
[protected-iframe id=”107d3c4934e931415c07fdef652eae4c-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fbballbreakdown%2Fstatus%2F846179156131930112″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″]…then after a ferocious dunk by Wright, another trey from the deep right arc with a hand in his face, to stave off the Grizzlies further, 89-83, with 9:55 remaining.
Daniels answered with a three up top over Barnes, Ian Clark hit back with a nice floater, then after a timeout, both teams were stuck on the 91-86 score for two minutes with Kerr finally bringing back Curry in for Thompson.
Also, Shaun Livingston survived a scary foul by high-flyer JaMychal Green:
[protected-iframe id=”088371b92604be0ba8b0582258a881c7-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fbballbreakdown%2Fstatus%2F846183343100051456″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″]The Warriors finally got the separation they were looking for after David West hit a jumper and Steph drilled a step-back trey on Conley to put the Dubs up by ten, 96-86:
[protected-iframe id=”86fb2600389616aeaca83c7c5f04d298-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FESPNNBA%2Fstatus%2F846186545702879232″ width=”360″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″]Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale called timeout, Conley hit yet another jumper, but Curry splashed again, then banked a turn-around shot after a series of fakes that started under the hoop against Green:
[protected-iframe id=”b83e0f8407175a960031dc915ab82439-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FCBSSportsNBA%2Fstatus%2F846184395266494464″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″] [protected-iframe id=”e86bedc7db2b7d614997fdb79a6c45d5-114320562-10106876″ info=”http://twitframe.com/show?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FCSNWarriors%2Fstatus%2F846184813170061312″ width=”360″ height=”250″ frameborder=”0″]Conley fought back with some exquisite English on a layup just past the help and outstretched arms of Draymond, but Steph found Iguodala in transition and Andre slammed home a nail in the coffin, giving the Warriors a 103-91 lead with just 1:43 to go.
Vince Carter then got stripped on vintage one-on-one defense by Iguodala, but Golden State couldn’t capitalize. Still, precious time burned away for Memphis before Conley hit another clutch three-pointer.
Klay answered that with his own triple, and the Grizzlies were officially slain, 106-84.
The Warriors (59-14) now head out to Texas to face the Rockets and Spurs in a road back-to-back that starts in two nights.
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