SAN FRANCISCO — — The Golden State Warriors received a message at halftime about taking control of the third quarter and making consistent defensive stops, and they wasted no time stealing momentum once back on the field.
They shared the ball and they took care of it.
Stephen Curry reached 300 3-pointers for a record fifth NBA season and scored 14 points with four 3s, one of seven players in double figures as the Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 137-116 on Wednesday night.
“He’s going to do it again next year. I’m not surprised,” said teammate Chris Paul. “It’s easy for him, he gets life out of the ball, takes care of his body.”
Jonathan Kuminga scored 26 points, Andrew Wiggins added 22 and 10 rebounds and Klay Thompson 23 points coming off the bench. Paul dished out a season-best 14 assists – tying the second-most reserves this season – in the team’s 30th game with at least 30 assists.
“It was a fun game to watch,” coach Steve Kerr said, calling Paul’s passing “clinical” as the team finished with a season-high 43 assists to just six turnovers.
Paul said he was fortunate to play basketball since he was 4 years old and have great coaches. He has a knack for finding the hot hand or the right look.
“I’ve played a few games, but seriously, I watch this game all day,” Paul said. “I know this game like the back of my hand.”
GG Jackson II scored 35 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 for a Memphis team that lost 121-111 in overtime Monday at Sacramento and has now lost four in a row and six of seven. Santi Aldama scored 15 of his 27 points in the second quarter and had 21 at halftime for the Grizzlies.
His second straight 3-pointer 2:30 before halftime brought Memphis within 58-56. A pair of free throws by Jaren Jackson Jr. tied it at the 2:07 mark before Golden State scored 10 unanswered points to end the half with a 68-58 lead. The Warriors opened the third with a 12-0 burst.
The last time the Warriors went 22-0 or better was a 24-0 third-quarter spurt in Houston on May 1, 2021, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Things got tough between two teams with a rocky history dating back to the 2022 playoffs. After Moses Moody’s 3-pointer with 6:39 left in the second quarter put Golden State ahead 49-47, Memphis called a timeout and Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins approached an official to speak. Draymond Green, who had tangled with Aldama under the Grizzlies basket on the previous play, tried to go in and Desmond Bane reached out to stop him. They each received technical advice and then shook hands once things calmed down.
Jenkins fell during the fight, but Kerr said they talked afterward and he was fine.
“We have a history with this team and it’s always been very competitive,” Kerr said. “They are tough. When we play them, there’s usually some sort of dust.
Kuminga made five of his initial six shots to score 11 points in the first quarter and finished 12 of 17 from the floor, while Curry made his first three shots and finished 5 of 9.
Green, questionable entering the game due to a lower back strain, started and had 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
The Warriors evened their home record at 18-18 after a 119-112 loss to the Knicks at Chase Center on Monday night. They won four in a row and were 10 of 12 at home against Memphis, which shot 7 of 17 from 3 in the first quarter and finished 18 of 49 from deep.
Kuminga scored in double figures for the eighth straight game and 46th in the last 48. It was his ninth 20-point performance in the last 12 games and his 22nd overall.
Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski earned his NBA-leading 35th charge.
FOLLOWING
Grizzlies: At San Antonio Friday night.
Warriors: Host the Pacers Friday night after losing the last four games of the series at home.
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