Recap: Golden State vs. Memphis
Sports Network | November 08, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Rudy Gay scored 23 points and rookie guard O.J. Mayo had 20 points and nine rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 109-104 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Hakim Warrick scored 19 points and grabbed 10 boards for the Grizzlies, who topped the Warriors for the second time in five days, after a win in Memphis on Monday. Darrell Arthur added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis, which improved to 3-3 on the season.
"We were 0-2 on the road, we had played some pretty good teams and we felt if you keep plugging away we were going to get it," said Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni. "It was good that we finally got the monkey off our back."
Stephen Jackson scored 27 points for the Warriors, who have dropped four of six to start the season. Andris Biedrins had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Kelenna Azubuike added 21 points for Golden State, which rallied from down 12 points in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but still fell to the Grizzlies for the second time this week.
Memphis pulled away early in the fourth quarter, only to see the Warriors come storming back. A Gay pullup jumper pushed Memphis ahead 93-81 with 8:13 left in regulation, but Biedrins powered a comeback. He scored five straight points, part of an 8-0 run that pulled the Warriors within 93-89.
Mayo made one-of-two free throws for a five-point lead, but consecutive three- point plays from Azubuike and Biedrins pushed the Warriors ahead 95-94 with 5:39 to play.
Mayo answered with a pullup jumper, though, and four missed Golden State free throws -- two by Jackson, to by C.J. Watson -- hurt the Warriors' chances. A layup by Jackson pulled the Warriors within 101-98 with 1:19 left, but Gay drilled a three-pointer from the corner with 55.8 seconds left for a six-point lead.
The Warriors cut to within three on two Jackson free throws with 15.5 seconds left, but Mike Conley made two free throws with 15.1 left. A Jackson three miss at the other end sealed Golden State's fate.
"It's real tough, a game we should've won," said Jackson.
Golden State held a 30-28 lead after the first quarter, and took a 50-48 edge into halftime. The Grizzlies came back to build an 81-74 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Earlier on Friday the Warriors named Larry Riley assistant general manager, replacing fired assistant general manager Pete D'Alessandro...Officials ruled a Gay three-pointer with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter was actually a two- pointer, thanks to expanded instant replay. The shot was ruled a three initially, but referees checked replay during the next stoppage, saw that Gay's foot was on the line, and took a point off the board for the Grizzlies, dropping their lead to 93-89 with 6:46 left...Memphis outrebounded Golden State 55-41.
