Battered Warriors survive ugly game to overcome tough Grizzlies

Battered Warriors survive ugly game to overcome tough Grizzlies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Over the course of an 82-game NBA season, there are bound to be nights when winning is secondary to survival.

The Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies played such a game Friday night at the Chase Center, and Golden State’s 123-118 win was as much about its tenacity and ability to absorb punishment as it was about outplaying the opposition.

Everything was a struggle. For both teams. The paint was a dark alley between mean streets. The action, with three- and four-man scrums, countless collisions and bodies bouncing off the floor, became a test of will and composure.

A clue to the grotesque nature of this game is that in the fourth quarter things devolved into full-on rugby action. The teams combined for 49 free throws in the second half, 21 for the Warriors and 29 for the Grizzlies.

Kerr declined to address the official, but found an avenue through which he could comfortably express his displeasure.

“It was just kind of disgusting,” coach Steve Kerr said, his anger barely contained. “The last quarter and a half was disgusting. I felt sorry for our fans to see what happened.

“But great win. We’ll take the win and move on.”

Another clue to the choppy atmosphere is that six Warriors scored in double figures, topped by Buddy Hield’s 18 points. Moses Moody had 14 and Stephen Curry finished with 13, as did Andrew Wiggins and Green. Brandin Podziemski added 11. The scoring was as spread out as the game.

“We got the win and that’s all that matters,” said Green, who also declined to discuss officials but said he neither received nor needed an explanation for the second technical foul that led to his ejection with 1:14 left.

Lindy Waters III made his second start of the season and didn’t make it out of the first half. After rising to block a layup attempt by Memphis forward Santi Aldama, Waters landed awkwardly on his left leg. He remained on the floor for about a minute before being helped limping into the dressing room with what was diagnosed as a hyperextended left knee.

The officiating staff—chief Bill Kennedy, referee Brian Forte, referee Andy Nagy—was relatively reticent about blowing the whistle until the fourth quarter. The only conduct-based technical fouls were called on Green within the final two minutes.

By then, Green had endured an entire war. He was knocked to the floor in transition, which the referees whistled as a plain foul. Minutes later, when Draymond took an elbow to the chin, he was whistled for the foul. He encouraged Kerr to challenge the call. He did. On review, it was reversed.

Memphis star Jaren Jackson Jr. hit the floor no fewer than four times, one of which resulted in him writhing in pain for about 15 seconds. He stayed in the game and finished with 32 points, including 10-of-11 shooting from the line.

“They’re a very physical team and we matched their physicality,” Kerr said. “And that was an important part of the victory.”

Dillon Brooks, the NBA’s most single-minded firebrand, left Memphis 16 months ago, but it was clear his antagonistic legacy remains. The Grizzlies are combative enough without him. Then there is also a history of blood spatter between these teams.

You may remember the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals. The went six gamesand there was enough commotion to embitter both dressing rooms. Kerr famously said Brooks “broke the code” in Game 2 with its flagrante 2 foul – and automatic ejection – after hitting an airborne Gary Payton II, who suffered a broken elbow. Brooks was suspended for Game 3.

This game suggested that some of that bitterness remains.

The Warriors persevered and mostly came out in one piece. They will take it because it puts them at 10-2. And this W coming as it did indicates that they are a relatively small bunch of men, but tougher than they look.

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