Controversial call backfires spectacularly in third-straight Golden State Warriors loss

We know Steve Kerr hasn’t been shy in changing up the Golden State Warriors’ starting lineup this season, but the four-time championship-winning coach took it to a new level in his team’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

After Jonathan Kuminga was ruled out pregame by an ankle injury sustained in the warm up, Kerr chose to start four guards, Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo and Klay Thompson, alongside Draymond Green.

The Golden State Warriors have suffered their third-straight loss, never leading in a 131-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedexForum.

The move to start four guards backfired spectacularly, with the Warriors conceding 48 first-quarter points as the Grizzlies built a 20-point lead. Early double-digit deficits have become a trend for Golden State recently, yet this felt even more dramatic given the pregame lineup choice.

Kerr went more traditional to start the second quarter, playing two guards, Curry and Ty Jerome, alongside Andre Iguodala, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Green. It worked effectively with the Warriors working themselves back into the game after that unit produced a 21-7 run to start the period. However, Memphis regained an offensive rhythm to close the half, holding a 77-59 lead despite Curry’s 19 points.

Kevon Looney started the third-quarter in place of DiVincenzo and the Golden State defense ratcheted up as a result. They conceded just 22 points in the quarter as the Grizzlies lead was cut to a manageable six-point game heading to the fourth period.

The repeated need to make a concerted comeback eventually took its toll on the Warriors, with the hosts going ice cold from three as the Grizzlies again took control of the contest. A 32-17 final period ended what was a horrible night for Golden State from the outset.

Curry led the way with 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists, yet there was very little else to write home about. Poole got some late buckets to finish with 22, but his defense was again a major question mark as he finished a team-worst -33 in the game.

Green finished with a solid 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals, but it was Dillon Brooks who got the last laugh after the duo’s fiery back-and-forth over the last week. The Grizzlies shot 53.8% from the field and 45% from three-point range as the Warrior road defense reaches a laughable level of misery.

Golden State finish their three-game roadtrip without a win, moving back to 34-33 on the season as a result. They’re currently tied on the same record as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks, with things unlikely to get easier when they face the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center on Saturday.