The Grizzlies blew out the Warriors 134-95 Wednesday night at home, bringing their second-round playoff series to 3-2 in Golden State's favor. Memphis' dominant outing came without star Ja Morant, who is doubtful for the rest of the postseason with a right knee bruise.
The Grizzlies went up by as many as 55 points in the third quarter. They outscored Golden State 38-18 in the first quarter, 39-22 in the second and 42-17 in the third.
A trio of Memphis starters — Jaren Jackson Jr., Tyus Jones and Desmond Bane, put up 21 points each in the effort. Four other Grizzlies scored in double-digits, including 11 points from both Brandon Clarke and Ziaire Williams off the bench. Memphis was 47-for-99 from the field with 18 3s.
The Warriors had 22 turnovers — 14 in the first half alone — giving up 29 points off of them. Klay Thompson led the team with 19 points; Jonathan Kuminga added 17. Golden State as a whole was 36-for-80 from the field, including 14-of-39 from 3-point range.
"It was awful. It was embarrassing," Thompson said after the loss. "Sometimes basketball's an exact science and we played like a shell of ourselves."
Golden State forward Otto Porter Jr. was ruled out for the second half with right foot soreness after playing 12 minutes in the first half (zero points). He had 25 points over the prior two games.
The Warriors were led by assistant Mike Brown for the second straight game as head coach Steve Kerr remains in COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The series will return to San Francisco for Game 6 on Friday.
(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
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Turnovers, underperforming stars plague Warriors in Game 5 blowout
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Grizzlies' prodigious possession production serves up a Game 5 rout of Warriors
What worked for Memphis?
Fred Katz, NBA staff writer: Everything. If the Grizzlies were going to take Game 5 without Morant, they would have to win the possession battle. Jones never turns the ball over, and Memphis rarely ever gives it away when he's on the floor. Steven Adams wrecks opponents on the offensive glass. Wednesday, it showed.
Jones went for 21 points, nine assists and zero turnovers. The Warriors lost the turnover battle 22 to nine. They lost the offensive rebound battle 18 to four.
The Grizzlies made just about every shot, which helps, as the Warriors slopped all over. Anything that could have gone right for Memphis did.
Can they do it again?
Katz: Define "it." Can they commit the same type of obliteration for a second consecutive game? Of course not. Can they win again without Morant? Sure.
The possession battle remains the key to this series. The Grizzlies got 27 extra possessions Wednesday. That's nearly impossible for any team to overcome.
Of course, the Warriors can still win. They're still up three games to two, and surely, they won't play as recklessly as they did in Game 5.
What went wrong for the Warriors?
Anthony Slater, Warriors beat writer: Everything. They turned it over 14 times in the first half, let the Grizzlies hammer them on the glass and provided zero defensive resistance and fell down by 55.
It was their worst performance of the season, the regular season included. Name a player and there's something to critique about their performance.
How should they adjust in Game 6?
Slater: Their stars need to play better. Draymond Green can't allow Memphis to sag completely off of him without some sort of punishment. He can't turn it over at such a high rate. He must be more of a defensive force.
Steph Curry must shoot it better. He is in the low 30s from 3 for the series. Jordan Poole needs to rediscover his groove. He had a horrible Game 4 and 5.
This isn't on some scheme adjustment. This is on the Warriors' best players elevating their game.
Any reason to panic yet?
Slater: They are still huge favorites in this series, needing only to win a home game against a Memphis team that won't have Morant. I'd still expect them to advance. But this says something deeper about their longer-view title chances.
The Warriors beat a shorthanded Denver team and are now limping past the Grizzlies without Morant. This hasn't been the toughest path. Their turnover trouble is a massive issue. The loss of Gary Payton II and their lack of size is beginning to show more.
The Suns feel like stronger conference favorites than the Warriors did entering the night.