Memphis, TN – Marc Gasol scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out five assists, as the Memphis Grizzlies eked out a hard-fought 99-93 decision over the Golden State Warriors at FedEx Forum.
These teams figure to be in the mix for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race, and the Grizzlies gave themselves an advantage by sweeping the three-game season series.
Zach Randolph added a double-double of his own with 16 points and 12 boards in helping Memphis snap a two-game skid and win their ninth straight over the Warriors.
"It was a baby step in getting back to being a good team," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said. "I'm just proud of the effort that we gave for 48 minutes."
Stephen Curry and David Lee carried Golden State with 32 and 26 points, respectively. Curry also had eight assists in the club's third loss in a row.
The outcome predictably came down to the wire. After trading runs early in the fourth quarter, Curry nailed consecutive 3-pointers to give the Warriors an 86-83 lead with 8:10 to go.
The Grizzlies immediately called timeout and held Golden State scoreless over the next four-plus minutes. Mike Conley made a go-ahead 3-pointer during the subsequent 9-0 rally, which ended with Randolph's acrobatic tip-in.
It was still a six-point game heading to the final minute, and after Curry's rainbow 3-pointer hit off the back of the rim, Gasol made a deep two from just inside the arc at the top of the key to all but seal the win.
"It was a tough loss for us. We didn't make shots," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said.
The Grizzlies never trailed in the first half, as Tony Allen's 10 first- quarter points guided the hosts to a 32-24 lead. Memphis made six 3-pointers in the second quarter and led by as many as 14 after newcomer Austin Daye hit a triple for a 40-26 cushion two minutes into the frame.
The Warriors stayed close, thanks in part to Lee and Curry each netting 11 points in the second. They opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run to take their first lead, 67-65, on an Andrew Bogut tip-in with 7 1/2 minutes left in the stanza.
Tayshaun Prince's runner in the final minute gave the Grizzlies a 77-76 lead heading to the fourth.
Game Notes
Allen scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting ... Conley logged 10 assists ... Memphis won the rebounding battle, 43-34 ... The Warriors were without backup point guard Jarett Jack due to a right shoulder contusion ... The Warriors have not beaten the Grizzlies since Nov. 3, 2010.
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