The Golden State Warriors are already dealing with a host of injury concerns and were pulled apart by the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener, but their woes have just deepened after a shock fourth-quarter collapse against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
The Warriors appeared in control of the game when De'Anthony Melton hit a three to put them up by 12 with under four minutes remaining, only for the visitors to produce a 17-0 run to stun fans inside Chase Center.
Warriors early season woes deepen with final period collapse vs. Grizzlies
Golden State simply didn't execute down the stretch in a familiar story over recent seasons, highlighted by a couple of inexplicable mistakes by Draymond Green in the final minute. The veteran forward needlessly fouled Jaylen Wells when the Warriors were still up one, sending him to the free-throw line where the young Memphis wing tied the game.
After third overall pick Cam Boozer had given the Grizzlies the lead on their next offensive possession, Green committed a moving screen which took away any chance of Stephen Curry launching a potential game-tying or go-ahead attempt.
That was compounded by a technical foul called on Steve Kerr, before former Warrior Ty Jerome slipped to the rim to put the finishing touches on Memphis' comeback, and on another outstanding night for him personally.
After going for an extraordinary 45 points in their season opener, Jerome added another 28 points and five assists on 50% shooting from the floor and 60% from 3-point range. Boozer added 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, just shading Yaxel Lendeborg in another fascinating battle in the budding rivalry.
Warriors veterans let Warriors down on Friday night
There were positives for Golden State from the contest, starting with Lendeborg who had 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals in a promising performance from the 11th overall pick. Returning from back soreness that saw him miss the season opener against the Lakers, Brandin Podziemski added 18 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals in his 33 minutes.
It was arguably the veterans who cost the Warriors the game, starting with Green's errors in the clutch on both ends of the floor. Curry had a team-high 24 points, but the two-time MVP went scoreless over the final 11 mintues and shot just 5-of-15 from the floor.
The Warriors have no time to pick themselves up from a physical and arduous contest, with the team set to travel to Phoenix for a matchup with the Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.
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