In a game that felt more like a roller coaster than a regular-season matchup, the Golden State Warriors clawed their way back from 17 points down to edge out the Memphis Grizzlies, 114-113. It wasn’t always pretty-far from it-but in the absence of Steph Curry, the Dubs found just enough grit, hustle, and late-game poise to get the job done and move to 29-25 on the season.
Let’s be honest: this wasn’t exactly a clash of titans. Both teams were shorthanded, and Memphis, fresh off trading away Jaren Jackson Jr., seemed more interested in draft position than scoreboard results. But none of that takes away from the Warriors' comeback, which was fueled by a mix of veteran savvy, youthful energy, and some well-timed defensive stops.
Early Struggles, Turnover Troubles
Golden State got off to a sluggish start, falling behind 17-7 as the offense struggled to find any rhythm. The ball movement was stagnant, shots weren’t falling, and the Grizzlies took full advantage. But Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford injected some much-needed life into the lineup, helping the Warriors close the first quarter tied at 32.
Still, turnovers remained a thorn in Golden State’s side all night. The Dubs coughed it up 23 times, and Draymond Green accounted for seven of those.
Green did chip in 14 points, knocking down some outside shots, but his decision-making was erratic. Without Curry to steady the offense, every miscue felt amplified, and Green’s continued struggles to take care of the ball were a major storyline.
Ty Jerome’s Revenge Tour
Former Warriors guard Ty Jerome looked like a man on a mission. Whether it was lingering motivation from Golden State choosing to convert Anthony Lamb’s contract over his back in 2022-23 or just a hot hand, Jerome led the Grizzlies with 19 points, 7 assists, and a +15 plus/minus. He orchestrated the offense with confidence, helping Memphis build a 16-point lead heading into the fourth.
But that’s when things started to unravel for the Grizzlies.
Memphis Hits the Brakes, Warriors Hit the Gas
With the Grizzlies clearly leaning into a developmental approach post-trade deadline, they sat key players down the stretch. That opened the door for Golden State, and the Warriors didn’t hesitate to walk through it.
The comeback was methodical. Horford cut the lead to eight with under five minutes to go.
Gui Santos drilled a wide-open three to make it five. Then came a transition layup from De’Anthony Melton, followed by a driving finish from Moses Moody.
Just like that, the lead was down to one.
Podziemski nearly capped the run with a steal and go-ahead layup off the inbounds, but the shot rimmed out. Both teams then went cold for the next two minutes, setting the stage for a wild final sequence.
Chaos and Clutch
With 26 seconds left, Horford missed a post shot, then a tip-in, but managed to grab his own miss. Falling to the floor with his upper body teetering near the baseline, he somehow found Santos cutting to the rim. The rookie finished through traffic to give the Warriors their first lead since the opening minutes.
Memphis had one last chance with 19 seconds left, but couldn’t convert on a pair of attempts. Ballgame.
Unsung Heroes and a Veteran’s Steady Hand
This was a team win in every sense. Pat Spencer continued to make the most of his minutes, finishing with 17 points and 7 assists.
Moody quietly added 15 points, doing most of his work at the free-throw line. Santos, now a fixture in the starting lineup, turned in another strong performance: 16 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, and a steal on 7-of-10 shooting in 30 minutes.
Podziemski added 16 off the bench, but the real stabilizer was Horford. The 37-year-old vet turned back the clock, putting up 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and a game-high +24 in just 26 minutes. With Green struggling, Horford brought calm to the chaos-anchoring the defense, facilitating the offense, and ultimately setting up the game-winning bucket.
The Bottom Line
The Warriors won’t hang a banner for this one, but they’ll take it. In a season that’s been anything but predictable, every win matters-especially when it comes without your franchise cornerstone.
For Golden State, this was a gut-check game. And thanks to a mix of youth stepping up and a veteran delivering in the clutch, they passed it.