MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ The Warriors labored through a 132-117 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their regular-season finale on Wednesday. Presumably, the Warriors will appear in championship form once the NBA playoffs start.
The Warriors (57-25) sat most of their core players for minor ailments, including Stephen Curry (right ankle), DeMarcus Cousins (load management from surgically repaired left Achilles tendon), Draymond Green (left knee soreness) and Shaun Livingston (left knee soreness). The Warriors played Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala conservative minutes. Durant had 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting 19 minutes, while Thompson had 19 on a 8-of-12 clip in 17. Iguodala added five points and five rebounds off the bench in 22 minutes.
With the Warriors already cementing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they offered neither playoff intensity or rotations.
The Grizzlies (33-49) stormed out to a 86-68 half-time lead, which marked the second-most points allowed in the first half in franchise history. The Warriors also conceded 87 first-half points to Phoenix on March 23, 1989. Meanwhile, the Warriors mostly relied on their younger players in Jordan Bell (15 points, seven rebounds), Quinn Cook (10), Damion Lee (eight), Alfonzo McKinnie (four) and Jacob Evans (three).
The only other notable development: Durant collected his 16th technical of the season after official Karl Lane charged that bumped into him with 9:39 left in the first quarter. NBA players serve a one-game suspension without pay after collecting a 16th technical, but that only applies to the regular season. Durant will not serve any punishment since the NBA playoffs start on Monday. Regardless, Durant protested the call and subsequently spoke to official Lane to clear the air.
