Grizzlies dominate Warriors, snap three-game losing streak
Dillon Brooks was driving to the rim while Draymond Green, the Golden State Warrior who publicly told the world that Brooks is holding the Memphis Grizzlies back, was waiting.
Brooks went into the body of Green and finished a layup with his left hand as the Fedexforum crowd screamed while the two elite defenders stood face to face.
Brooks got the better of the face-off, and his team got the advantage in the matchup. The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 131-110 at Fedexforum on Thursday night.
Memphis (39-26) spent most of the night leading by double digits. Each of the five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, led by 22 points from Tyus Jones. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points apiece.
Golden State (34-33) has now lost eight straight games on the road. It was also the first time the Grizzlies have beaten the Warriors in three meetings this season.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
Getting off to a fast start
The Grizzlies offense could have taught a class on how to play the game of basketball in the first quarter. Memphis was dominating inside and out, while many players were getting involved. The Grizzlies led the Warriors 48-28 after the first quarter. It was the highest-scoring first quarter this season for Memphis, and the most points the Warriors have given up in the first quarter. Memphis finished the quarter with 18 points in the paint, eight made 3pointers and 14 assists. The Grizzlies ended the game with 36 assists and made 18 of 40 3-pointers.
Grizzlies starters tale control
Each of the five Grizzlies starters made noticeable impacts, and their best moments came when they shared the floor. Memphis started the first quarter in a dominant fashion, but the Warriors made a run in the second quarter while Jackson, Tyus Jones and Brooks went to the bench. The starters returned and restored order midway through the second quarter. After the Warriors cut the lead from 20 to six, Memphis built its lead back up to 18 at halftime.
Foul trouble in the third quarter limited how much all the starters shared the floor. John Konchar, Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard each came off the bench and made multiple 3-pointers.
Aldama led the second unit with 15 points, and he played alongside Jackson in the closing lineup.
Dillon Brooks gets the last word
During the first quarter when Brooks attempted a shot, Klay Thompson yelled, "Shoot it!" while standing at the scorer's table. When Brooks missed the midrange jumper, Thompson turned to the fans behind him and said, "We gone live with Brooks shooting it all day."
After Brooks' one-on-one transition basket against Green, a ferocious outof-bounds block on Stephen Curry and a fourth-quarter forced carry call on Curry, Brooks let out a loud scream. The longest-tenured Grizzlies player stepped up on Thursday. Brooks finished with 14 points and six assists.
What's next
The Grizzlies will host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at Fedexforum. Memphis has lost four consecutive games against the Mavericks, but Dallas will look much different. This will be the first time the Grizzlies have faced the Mavericks since Dallas acquired Kyrie Irving. Mavericks star Luka Doncic also left the Mavs' last game. His status for Saturday is uncertain.