NBA roundup: Grizzlies stop Warriors’ 16-game win streak

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — 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 straight 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 straight win.

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 wins 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 3-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 straight 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 three of his 3-pointers in the surge, helping Memphis to a 57-49 lead at halftime.

PELICANS 119, JAZZ 111

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis returned from a chest injury and scored 31 points, helping New Orleans rally for the win.

Davis, who missed most of Friday night’s victory over Cleveland and all of Sunday night’s loss to Golden State, played with a protective vest that did not appear to inhibit him. He had nine rebounds and three blocks, with all three rejections coming in the pivotal final four minutes.

Ryan Anderson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans added 19 points, scoring nine during New Orleans’ 41-point fourth quarter.

Enes Kanter scored 29 points for Utah, which has lost three straight and 12 of 13.

MAVERICKS 107, KNICKS 87

NEW YORK — Tyson Chandler had three dunks during Dallas’ sizzling start to his return to New York, and Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points for the Mavericks.

Chandler played a key role in the NBA’s highest-scoring team putting together a nearly unstoppable start that gave it the lead for good. Monta Ellis added 14 points, and Chandler Parsons had 13 after missing a game with a sore lower back.

Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points for the Knicks. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 but was 5 for 17 in another poor shooting effort.

HEAT 95, NETS 91

NEW YORK — Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, leading Miami to the road win.

The Heat had five players score in double figures, including three reserves. Starting forward Luol Deng had 18 points, and rookie Shabazz Napier scored 11.

The game was delayed for 29 minutes in the first quarter when the installation of a new green roof at Barclays Center led to a water leak.

Mason Plumlee had 21 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, and Joe Johnson scored 16 points. Deron Williams added 15 points and 11 assists.

WIZARDS 109, TIMBERWOLVES 95

WASHINGTON — John Wall scored 21 points and equaled a career high with 17 assists, helping Washington to its fifth consecutive win.

Washington scored 14 straight to take a 14-2 lead less than 4 1/2 minutes into the game. Wall had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter.

Rasual Butler had 23 points for the Wizards.

Thaddeus Young, who led a third-quarter charge, had a season-high 29 points for Minnesota, which has lost nine of 10. Shabazz Muhammad scored 21.

THUNDER 104, KINGS 92

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Russell Westbrook had 32 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant scored 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the reeling Sacramento Kings for their seventh straight win.

Sacramento lost in its first game since Michael Malone was fired as coach and lead assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to the head job. The Kings dropped to 2-8 without franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins, who is recovering from viral meningitis.

Rudy Gay scored 22 points, and reserve Carl Landry added 14 points for the Kings.

BUCKS’ PARKER OUT FOR SEASON

MILWAUKEE — Bucks rookie Jabari Parker will miss the rest of the season after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Monday night’s 96-94 win at Phoenix.

A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the injury to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to make an announcement before Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Parker was hurt when he took an awkward step before colliding with the Suns’ P.J. Tucker. It’s a huge blow for a rebuilding franchise off to a good start under new coach Jason Kidd.

The Bucks, who won 15 games all of last season, are 13-12.

Parker, the second-overall pick in this year’s draft, averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this year. ESPN first reported the injury.

Parker was a one-and-done star at Duke before getting drafted by Milwaukee in June. The polished forward was a cornerstone in a rebuilding plan for a franchise that had finished above .500 just once since 2003-04.

By wire sources