Thompson scores 36 in Warriors' win over Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Klay Thompson scored 36 points and the Golden State Warriors rolled to a 122-107 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night at FedExForum.
Thompson tied his season high for made threes as he went 8 of 15 from behind the arc. Kevin Durant scored 24 points with five rebounds and four assists and Stephen Curry had 18 points and five assists.
Draymond Green only scored four points, but had a rare 12-rebound, 10-assist, 10-steal triple-double, plus five blocks. Andre Iguodala contributed 22 points and four assists off the bench.
The Grizzlies (33-23) never had a lead in the game. They had beaten the Warriors in the teams' two previous meetings this season. They won 110-89 in Memphis in December, and on Jan. 6 they rallied from 24 points down at Oracle Arena to win 128-119 in overtime.
There would no comeback this time. The Warriors (45-8) pulled away in the third quarter and Memphis coach David Fizdale was ejected at the 9:19 mark of that quarter after being hit with consecutive technical fouls.
The Warriors carried a 98-77 lead into the fourth quarter and then stretched their advantage to as many as 26 points.
Point guard Mike Conley paced Memphis with 20 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals. Zach Randolph produced 17 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, and Marc Gasol had 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Tony Allen finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Golden State won for the seventh time in its last eight games and converted 19 Memphis turnovers into 25 points.
The Warriors shot 50.6 percent from the field and hit 15 of 33 from 3-point range for 45.5 percent. The Grizzlies shot 39.1 percent from the floor and were 9 of 26 from distance for 34.6 percent.
Thompson opened the game by hitting three triples as the Warriors started on a 9-2 run. He finished the first quarter with 14 points and Golden State led 62-49 at halftime.
NOTES: Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about Saturday's game at Oklahoma City, marking the return of F Kevin Durant. "Put yourself in his shoes," Kerr said. "It's a bizarre event tomorrow. You can only imagine the emotions he's going through." ... Memphis F Chandler Parsons sat out Friday with what the team termed a "planned recovery day." Parsons, the biggest free agent signee in franchise history -- four years and $94 million this past offseason -- has been limited because of pain in both knees. He had two procedures on his right knee before signing with the Grizzlies. This was his second game off for recovery in the last four, but coach David Fizdale said he would play again before the All-Star break. ... Veteran Warriors C Zaza Pachulia missed his fifth straight game with a right rotator cuff strain and forward David West remained out with a left thumb injury.