GRIZZLIES 105, WARRIORS 98
MEMPHIS -- A big boost from the very deep Memphis bench put a stop to the Golden State Warriors' 16-game winning streak.
With all backups on the floor, Vince Carter and the Grizzlies scored 20 consecutive points to start the second quarter and went on to beat Golden State 105-98 on Tuesday night.
"They punched us in the mouth to start the second quarter, and that was the difference in the game," Golden State Coach Steve Kerr said.
Carter scored 11 of his season-high 16 points during the decisive run. Marc Gasol scored 24 points and Zach Randolph had 17 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis earned its fifth consecutive victory.
Mike Conley had 17 points and reserve Jon Leuer added 11 for the Grizzlies. Memphis trailed 30-24 before holding the Warriors scoreless for the first five minutes of the second period.
"They deserve all the credit for what they did," Gasol said of the bench. "They came in, and I thought defensively they did an amazing job playing from one side of the floor helping the other side ... Young guy Vince made some tough shots."
The Warriors came in with the NBA's best record at 21-2 and longest winning streak in franchise history. They lost for the first time since Nov. 11 against the Spurs, also the last team to beat Memphis. This was the first time in NBA history in which both teams had 19 or more victories in the first 24 games -- the Grizzlies improved to 20-4.
"We understand it was a nice run and something the franchise has never done before," Golden State star Stephen Curry said. "It's put us in a good position to take a tough loss like we did tonight and keep moving. We'll be all right. . It was fun while it lasted."
Curry missed back-to-back three-pointers in the final 10 seconds. He had 19 points on 9-of-25 shooting, including a 1-for-10 night from beyond the arc.
Klay Thompson scored 22 points for the Warriors, and Marreese Speights had 18. Harrison Barnes scored 11 points while playing with a mask to protect a broken bone in his face.
The Warriors trailed by as many as 14 and got within two twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 90-88 on an alley-oop dunk for Livingston with 5:09 to go. Memphis responded with a 7-0 run capped by two foul shots for Courtney Lee after Kerr and Warriors guard Andre Iguodala each picked up a technical foul.
Golden State closed a three-game road swing with 7-foot center Andrew Bogut sitting out a fourth consecutive game with a right knee injury and David Lee still out with a hamstring problem. The Warriors countered the size difference inside with Curry and Thompson going to the basket repeatedly. They managed to tie Memphis with 50 points in the paint.
That Memphis run was one of the best in franchise history as the Grizzlies hit their first six shots of the period. Carter hit 3 of his three-pointers in the surge, helping Memphis to a 57-49 lead at halftime.
Sports on 12/17/2014