SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors’ last season ended in overtime at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, so it should have come as no surprise the two teams needed extra time to decide their first meeting of the new year.
The Warriors held a lead at halftime for the first time this season but let it slip away in the fourth quarter and lost it for good with a minute left in overtime, taking their first loss of the young season, 104-101.
Ja Morant stuck a dagger in the Warriors with a jumper that gave the Grizzlies the decisive lead with 57 seconds left in overtime. Despite holding the Grizzlies star to seven first-half points, Morant finished with 30 to lead all scorers but Stephen Curry.
Curry finished with a game-high 36 points but failed to knock down a couple step-back 3-point attempts in the final moments of overtime that sealed the game.
Golden State took its final lead, 101-100, when Curry dribbled past his defender and kicked the ball to Damion Lee, who sank his third 3-pointer of the night.
But the Warriors never regained form after that and took its first defeat of the season.
Before Thursday night’s game, coach Steve Kerr referenced two all-time great teams when talking about his squad.
“We’re not the ‘96 Bulls,” Kerr said, “or the ‘16 Warriors.”
At points Thursday, these Warriors just might have appeared so, building a lead as large as 19 in their most dominant stretch of basketball this season. But there were also reminders of how far they have to go, as Golden State allowed the Grizzlies to climb all the way back and force overtime.
Draymond Green denied Jaren Jackson Jr., giving the Warriors one final possession with 14 seconds left in regulation. He passed to Curry, who launched his own 3-pointer that swished through the net — but a whistle was blown before he could get it off.
Andrew Wiggins was tasked with the challenge of defending Grizzlies star Ja Morant, as the 6-7 forward is with each opponent’s top offensive threat.
It was going splendidly for a half. Then Ja did what Ja does.
Morant entered Thursday night as the NBA’s top scorer, averaging 30.5 points per game through his first four contests. But, with Wiggins’ help, Golden State limited the Grizzlies star to seven first-half points on 3-of-9 shooting.
He doubled his scoring total before the third quarter was halfway through and finished the game with 30. A thunderous slam off a feed from Steven Adams pulled the Grizzlies within 1 midway through the third quarter, then Morant ended it on a field goal with 57 seconds to go in overtime.
