MEMPHIS – In a battle of opposing NBA forces, the Warriors top-ranked offense failed to show up Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies’ fourth-ranked defense. The end result was a surprising 110-89 blowout and Memphis victory.
It was an uncharacteristic night for the league’s best offense, which managed a measly 15 assists, 17 less than their 31.8 per game on the season (were the season to end today, that would be the most by any team in NBA history). Since assists are the result of made shots, it makes sense the Warriors ended with 9 makes from deep, 3 less than the 12 they normally make, good for third in the league behind the Rockets (13.8) and Cavs (13.6).
Curry’s 17 points belied one of his worst performances of the season, highlighted by a 3-4 assist/turnover ratio and 28-percent shooting from the floor. His airball from deep at the end of the third quarter was one of eight misses from beyond the arc on the night (3-11 overall) and wound being his last shot attempt of the night as he sat the entire fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant shot well in his own right, making 7 of 13 shots in 31 minutes, but it was not near enough to overcome the fact that every single starter had a +/- rating of at least -18.
Klay Thompson’s eight points on 4-of-14 shooting means he’s now scored a combined 18 points in his last two games after going off for 110 in the previous three. He’s also 0-for-7 from deep in that time.
Next up for the Warriors will be the second night of a back-to-back in Minnesota against the struggling Timberwolves.
