For the first time all year, the Golden State Warriors are truly facing adversity. Now down 2-1, the Warriors are going into the FedEx Forum with the goal of tying the series and regaining home court advantage. Stephen Curry has faced harsh criticism and will look to quiet the critics.
Losing Marreese Speights to a calf injury, the Warriors will have to dig deep and find away to counter Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Check out our instant recap below:
1st Quarter
Courtney Lee was the first to get on the board for either team, but Draymond Green got the Warriors the lead with a triple. The Warriors came out with a different game plan defensively and a Klay Thompson bucket gave them a 7-4 lead. The Grizzlies looked a bit confused, but the Warrior lead was slim and the shots were still not flowing. The Warriors were in control, but turnovers allowed the Grizzlies to climb back and tie this game. The pace was a little quicker, but the Grizzlies were keeping up with the Dubs. The scoring picked up after the five minute mark, but it was coming from both teams. The Warriors finally got some separation and ended the quarter on a 7-0 run and they led 28-20.
Another angle of Curry’s long triple. https://t.co/n2PqugwipU @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) May 12, 2015
2nd Quarter
The Warriors picked up where they left off and the scoring continued. Thompson hit two buckets and Harrison Barnes continued to play well. The Grizzlies were also scoring, but again, finally the Warriors looked like themselves. Memphis went on a 4-0 run, but Andre Iguodala hit his second triple to get the Warriors back up by double digits. Steph Curry then decided to remind the Grizzlies and the entire nation why he’s the NBA MVP. He scored nine straight points and the Warriors were up by 14. Gasol came back to score four quick points, but the Warriors kept pouring it on. Finally, the Warriors looked like the Warriors. Even David lee got involved and made two buckets. Curry kept scoring at will as the half was winding down and before you knew it, he had 21 points and the Warriors led 61-44.
Fastbreak triple for Curry. https://t.co/euvAyrqXgr @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) May 12, 2015
3rd Quarter
The Grizzlies scored first in the second half, but Andrew Bogut responded right back with a bucket of his own. Klay Thompson hit a transition triple to give the Warriors a 19 point lead. It then started to rain in Memphis. Thompson hit two, Curry hit one and Iguodala also chipped in with one triple. The Grindhouse was out of it and they were really quiet. The lead was up to 26 and the Grizzlies could not do anything about it. The Grizzlies then went on a 8-0 run, but the lead was still at 20. The Grizzlies were able to get it down to 18 with a Gasol dunk, but Curry came right back with astep back triple to get the lead back to 21. The old man known as Vince Carter got a bucket plus the foul, so the lead was down to 18 again. At the end of the third, the Warriors lead 82-64.
It’s raining in Memphis. https://t.co/zapFDyP0As @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) May 12, 2015
4th Quarter
The pace continued to favor the Warriors as the fourth quarter started. Draymond hit a triple to get things started, but Carter came back with one of his own. The Grizzlies would make baskets, but the Warriors always responded. Midway through the quarter, they were trading baskets, but time was running out. The Warriors lead was steady at 17 and it was good to see them get their groove back. Nothing special happened the rest of the way, the Warriors were able to run the clock out. Warriors win 101-84 and the series is tied at 2-2.
Klay makes a three and looks back at the crowd. https://t.co/utKzl5p6G8 @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) May 12, 2015