OAKLAND, Calif. _ Last time the Grizzlies were in Oracle Arena, they watched a huge fourth quarter lead melt away in a shocking loss. This time, they bumped a much slimmer fourth quarter lead the other direction, holding sturdy and then shooting away from Memphis in an impressive 106-94 win on Sunday night.
The Warriors entered the fourth clinging to an 83-81 lead. Klay Thompson provided some early separation, nailing a corner 3 on the quarter's first possession. Thompson was the game's high-scorer, finishing with 31 points and one fewer 3 (7-of-11 from deep) than the entire Grizzlies team (8-of-29).
Thompson has been particularly potent during this win streak, making 34 of his 65 3s (53 percent) since resting in San Antonio a couple of weeks back.
But Mike Conley, the Grizzlies crafty lefty point guard, kept Memphis close in the middle minutes of the fourth quarter, floating in teardrops and nailing step-back contested jumpers. He finished with 29.
Steph Curry re-entered the game with 5:41 left, returning to a modest five-point lead. On his first possession back, Curry found David West for a mid-range jumper, his 22rd assist the past two games.
From there, Curry shouldered the scoring load. Off a nice misdirection curl play the next possession, Curry squirted free for an open 3 at the top of the key. Shaun Livingston delivered it on time and Curry nailed the 3, pointing back toward the Warrior bench to credit the play design.
Conley nailed a jumper the next time down, but Curry answered right back, shaking him a bit on the wing before tossing up a deep 3 _ his fifth of the night _ to put the Warriors up 11. Moments later, Curry completed his 8-point burst with a late-clock fadeaway 17-footer which he perfectly banked off the glass. With 2:58 left and the Warriors now up 12, the shot seemed to seal it.
But if there was any doubt, Andre Iguodala squashed it, snatching his seventh rebound of the night with 1:47 left, delivering the outlet to Curry and then beating all the Memphis defenders down the court for a cutting dunk that forced one final, futile Memphis timeout.
It capped Iguodala's big night. The veteran scored 20 off the bench, continuing his strong play the past few months (and particularly the past few weeks with Kevin Durant out). Iguodala made seven of his eight shots, including two highlight dunks and two 3s.
The win bumped the Warriors back up 2.5 games on the Spurs for the West's top seed.
