After an impressive Game 4 performance on the road, the Golden State Warriors returned to Oracle Arena and put on a show in a 98-78 Game 5 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Once down 2-1 in the series, the Warriors officially have their mojo back and have a chance to close out the series back in Memphis on Friday.
Grizzlies vs. Warriors 2015 final score: 3 things we learned from Golden State’s 98-78 Game 5 blowout victory over Memphis
The Warriors officially have their mojo back after a dominant Game 5 victory has them one win away from the Western Conference Finals.
Stephen Curry followed up his dynamite 33-point effort in Game 4 with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and six steals in this win. The MVP shot 6-of-13 from long range, and it could have been even better considering he missed several wide open looks. Golden State shot 14-of-30 from long distance and had its transition game running on all cylinders, racking up 29 fast break points to just six for Memphis.
Klay Thompson bounced back from a slow start to finish with a game-high 21 points. Andre Iguodala added a surprising 16 points off the bench, while Harrison Barnes chipped in 14 points.
Memphis missed the defensive presence of Tony Allen, who sat out with a hamstring injury. But the Grizzlies' offense was just as big a problem, thanks in large part to the Warriors' swarming defense. Memphis shot just 39.8 percent overall and 4-of-15 from long range, meaning Golden State had a 42-12 advantage in points on three-pointers.
Marc Gasol had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, although the big man shot just 8-of-22 from the field. Zach Randolph also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but he only scored two points after the first quarter. The Grizzlies' bench offered very little in another rough overall offensive performance, although things actually started well for Memphis.
After putting up a dud of an offensive performance on their home court in Game 4, the Grizzlies came out firing in this one. Randolph went to work early on, scoring 11 first-quarter points and even knocking in a rare three-pointer. Memphis ran out to a 13-point lead before Golden State kicked it into gear on both ends of the floor.
Defense turned into offense as the Warriors closed the first quarter on a 16-2 run to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. Curry was the catalyst offensively, pouring in four first-quarter three-pointers. Golden State had seven turnovers in the opening frame, but Memphis had six of its own, with most of those occurring in the latter half of the quarter.
The margin stayed within three points for the first six minutes of the second quarter, but then a barrage of Warriors threes coupled with a Grizzlies scoring drought opened the game up. Golden State turned a 38-35 lead into a 49-37 lead thanks to triples from Barnes, Thompson and Curry, although Memphis narrowed the gap to 49-41 at the half.
The Grizzlies trimmed their deficit to six points early in the third quarter, but as they have all season, the Warriors turned up the jets and turned a tight six-point game into a 17-point blowout heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter was one of those patented highlight reel quarters for Golden State, and Thompson effectively said goodnight with a four-point play:
3 things we learned
1. When their role players also go off, the Warriors are unbeatable
The Splash Brothers and Draymond Green make the Warriors go, but when guys like Barnes and Iguodala also have it going, Golden State is just about unstoppable. Offensive contributions are more expected of Barnes, but getting 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from Iguodala is a real bonus. Iggy added two more three-pointers after knocking down three last game, as he has finally found his stroke after really struggling earlier in the postseason from long range.
2. Tony Allen was missed defensively
While Allen ineffective in Game 4 because of his injury and inability to hit a jumper, there’s no doubt his defensive presence was missed in this one. Even though he struggled offensively in Game 4, the Grizzlies’ defense was still significantly better with him on the court, and he was key in getting the two wins earlier in the series. The Warriors were way too comfortable in this game and got good look after good look. Allen likely wouldn’t have been the difference in the game, but the final outcome may have been closer.
3. This series is probably over
It’s tough to count out this gritty Grizzlies squad, but it’s hard to see them beating the Warriors two games in a row again. Golden State has found its rhythm offensively and is also playing elite defense again, and with Allen hobbled, the league’s best team will be tough to beat. Memphis is going back to The Grindhouse for Game 6, and anything can happen in a Game 7 if this series somehow gets there. But at this point, a Warriors series victory should be fully expected.
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