Will Richard scored 21 points and Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski added 19 apiece to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 133-112 victory over the host Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Each of the nine Warriors who played made a 3-pointer as Golden State finished 19-for-46 from deep. Gui Santos contributed 17 points and Moses Moody had 14 for the Warriors.
Memphis, which lost for the seventh time in eight games, was led by GG Jackson, who finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Ty Jerome added 22 points and five assists and made four 3-pointers. Javon Small scored 16 points and Taylor Hendricks had 14 for Memphis.
The undersized and short-handed Grizzlies were outrebounded 48-34. They have been beaten on the boards 150-107 in their past three games, all losses.
The Grizzlies played without star guard Ja Morant, who missed his 15th straight game Wednesday with an elbow injury. Also absent as a result of injuries were a trio of starters: rookie Cedric Coward (knee), Santi Aldama (knee) and Zach Edey (ankle).
The Warriors were minus an slew of key players, too. Stephen Curry (knee), Draymond Green (back), Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jimmy Butler III (torn ACL, out for season) missed the game. Curry was sidelined for the ninth consecutive game with a right knee injury. He hasn’t played since Jan. 30.
Golden State pulled away in the second quarter behind a 13-0 run that gave the Warriors a 63-39 advantage. The Warriors led 74-53 at the half.
The Grizzlies put together a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to trim Golden State’s lead to 82-70. But the Warriors responded behind Santos during a 12-2 run for a 22-point cushion with 1:51 remaining in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors extended their lead, which eventually reached 32 points midway through the period after a basket by Richard. His field goal ended a 10-1 run.
–Field Level Media
