Memphis Grizzlies squander 10-point fourth quarter lead in stunning loss to Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Regular season matchups between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies tend to draw a playoff-like atmosphere, and that was the case again Wednesday night.

Both teams went back and forth, with 21 lead changes by the midway point of the third quarter, but that's when the Grizzlies made their run. The Grizzlies led by 10 points midway through the fourth , but Golden State wasn't done.

A 17-4 Golden State run erased the 10-point Grizzlies lead, and the lead changed three more times in the final six minutes. The final changed happened as Jordan Poole made a contested layup to give the Warriors a 122-120 win at Chase Center.

This is the first time this season the Grizzlies (31-17) have lost a game after leading by 10 in the fourth quarter. Golden State (24-24) snapped a four-game home losing streak, and Memphis lost its fourth straight.

Warriors star Stephen Curry was ejected in the fourth quarter for throwing his mouthpiece. He finished with a game-high 34 points.

Ja Morant had 29 points and 13 assists to lead the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane added 20 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out.

Here are some takeaways from the game.

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Brandon Clarke gets the start

The Grizzlies learned on Tuesday that Steven Adams will be out the next three-to-five weeks with a sprained right knee ligament. Before the game, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned that the team could try a multitude of different pairings. Brandon Clarke replaced Adams in the starting lineup, and Xavier Tillman Sr. joined the second unit. Memphis often plays 10 players. With John Konchar out due to concussion symptoms, David Roddy checked into the game midway through the second quarter.

The biggest losses without Adams are his screening, rebounding and overall toughness. The Grizzlies didn't dominate in rebounding, but Clarke and Tillman's defensive versatility showed throughout the game when they were isolated against Golden State's lethal backcourt.

Ja Morant's attacks small-ball Warriors

The Warriors started Draymond Green at center and Kuminga at power forward. This small-ball lineup allowed Golden State to have Curry, Klay Thompson and Poole in the starting lineup, but it took away from their overall size. Morant was the biggest beneficiary of the smaller Warriors frontcourt. He constantly attacked the basket and finished multiple dazzling layups around well-positioned defense. Morant also did a great job of playmaking and finding his open teammates when attacking the basket.

Putting the Warriors away isn't easy

The Grizzles led by 10 points in the fourth quarter with 6:04 remaining before the Warriors went on an 8-2 run. Memphis did a great job of creating space in the third quarter, but fourth quarter 3-pointers from Poole, Thompson and Curry erased the Grizzlies' 10-point lead in four minutes.

Old issues haunted Memphis again. The Grizzlies struggled in the fourth quarter of their last two playoffs losses against Golden State, and the Grizzlies did so again on Wednesday. Thomspon and Poole made the dagger shots.

What's next

Memphis will finish its five-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday (6:30 p.m. CT, Bally Sports Southeast, NBA TV). This is the NBA's rivalry week, so the league scheduled Memphis against its two 2022 playoff opponents. The Timberwolves, like most of the Western Conference, have been great at home.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies lose to Golden State Warriors on Jordan Poole layup