Battered Warriors survive ugly game to overcome rugged Grizzlies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Over the course of an 82-game NBA season, there are bound to be nights when winning is secondary to surviving.
The Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies played such a game on Friday night at Chase Center, and Golden State’s 123-118 victory had as much to do with its perseverance and ability to absorb penalties as it did with outplaying the opponent.
Everything was a struggle. For both teams. The paint was a dark alley between mean streets. The action, with three- and four-man scrums, countless collisions and bodies bouncing off the floor, became a test of will and composure.
A clue to the grotesque nature of this game is that things turned into full-fledged rugby activity in the fourth quarter. The teams combined for 49 free throws in the second half, 21 for the Warriors and 29 for the Grizzlies.
Kerr declined to speak to the official, but found a way to comfortably express his displeasure.
“It was just kind of disgusting,” coach Steve Kerr said, his anger barely under control. “The last fifteen minutes were disgusting. I felt bad that our fans had to see what happened.
“But a nice victory. We’ll get the win and move on.”
Another clue to the choppy atmosphere is that six Warriors scored in double figures, topped by Buddy Hield’s 18 points. Moses Moody had fourteen and Stephen Curry finished with thirteen, as did Andrew Wiggins and Green. Brandin Podziemski added 11. The score was as spread out as the match.
“We got the win, and that’s all that matters,” said Green, who also declined to talk about the officials but did say he was not given or needed an explanation for the second technical foul that led to his ejection with 1:14 to go.
Lindy Waters III got his second start of the season and didn’t make it through the first half. After rising to block a layup attempt by Memphis forward Santi Aldama, Waters landed awkwardly on his left leg. He remained on the ground for about a minute before being helped limping into the locker room with what was diagnosed as a hyperextended left knee.
The officiating team – chief Bill Kennedy, referee Brian Forte, referee Andy Nagy – was relatively restrained with the whistle until the fourth quarter. The only conduct-based technical fouls were called on Green within the final two minutes.
By then, Green had endured an entire war. He was knocked to the ground during transition, which the referees whistled as a common foul. A few minutes later, when Draymond took an elbow to the chin, he was whistled for the foul. He urged Kerr to fight the call. He did. After review, it was reversed.
Memphis star Jaren Jackson Jr. hit the ground no fewer than four times, one of which left him writhing in pain for about 15 seconds. He stayed in the game and finished with a game-high 32 points, including 10-of-11 shooting from the line.
“They are a very physical team and we matched their physicality,” Kerr said. “And that was an important part of the victory.”
Dillon Brooks, the NBA’s most determined troublemaker, left Memphis 16 months ago, but it was clear his hostile legacy still endures. The Grizzlies are competitive enough without him. Then there is also a blood-spattered history between these teams.
You may remember the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals. It lasted six games and there was enough commotion to embitter both locker rooms. Kerr famously said Brooks “broke the code” in Game 2 with his flagrant 2 foul (and automatic ejection) after hitting Gary Payton II in mid-air, who suffered a broken elbow. Brooks was suspended for Game 3.
This game suggested that some of that bitterness lingers.
The Warriors held their ground and came out largely in one piece. They’ll take it because it puts them at 10-2. And this W, as it came, indicates that they are a relatively small group of men, but stronger than they appear.
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