The Golden State Warriors last held a top-five spot in the Western Conference standings on December 14, but they reclaimed it on Tuesday, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 134-125 at FedExForum to take the fifth seed.
When the Warriors last visited Memphis, Stephen Curry had a scoreless game, and his team suffered a 51-point loss. However, Tuesday’s performance was a complete turnaround as Curry led the team to victory with an incredible 52 points, 12 three-pointers, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals in nearly 37 minutes.
Curry and the Warriors’ veterans played key roles in the win. Despite Curry’s 32 first-half points and eight three-pointers, Golden State only led by eight at the break, with both teams firing on all cylinders. The Warriors built a 17-point lead early, but the Grizzlies fought back, especially with Ja Morant keeping pace with Curry.
Memphis took the lead in the third quarter, setting up a tense final period where the game was tied at 103. Golden State dominated in the closing minutes, finishing the game with an 18-5 run after trailing 120-116 with under four minutes remaining.
While Curry stole the spotlight, he wasn’t alone in his efforts. Jimmy Butler had a season-high 27 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, including 10 points in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green contributed a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in 33 minutes, anchoring the Warriors’ efforts.
Though the younger players didn’t shine as brightly, Brandin Podziemski made an important play with a tip-in to extend the lead, while Moses Moody hit a clutch corner three to seal the victory. Morant finished with 36 points, three rebounds, and six assists, but Golden State capitalized on their 28 perfect free throws, additional offensive rebounds, and fewer turnovers. Despite missing Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga for defensive coverage on Morant, the Warriors came out on top.
The Warriors now sit at the fifth seed in the Western Conference but will need to stay sharp as they face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday to wrap up their road trip.