The Golden State Warriors came into FedExForum and made a statement, dismantling the Memphis Grizzlies 133-112 on Wednesday night behind a dominant offensive performance that was essentially settled by halftime. A historic second quarter — in which Golden State outscored Memphis 40-22 — blew the game wide open and gave the Warriors a comfortable cushion they never relinquished. In front of 15,689 fans in Memphis, Will Richard led Golden State with 21 points, Pat Spencer orchestrated the offense with nine assists, and the Warriors moved to 31-28 on the season with a convincing road win.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Warriors Draw First Blood (GS 34, MEM 31)
The opening period was a competitive, back-and-forth affair. Golden State held a slim 34-31 edge after 12 minutes, but there were few early signs of the blowout to come. Memphis kept pace, and the game looked like it could go either way heading into the second quarter. Both teams were finding their rhythm offensively, with the Warriors shooting efficiently from the jump.
Second Quarter: Golden State Pulls Away (GS 40, MEM 22)
This is where the game was decided. The Warriors erupted for 40 points in the second quarter — one of the most dominant single-period performances of the NBA season — while holding the Grizzlies to just 22. The 18-point swing turned a close game into a 31-point halftime deficit for Memphis (74-53), effectively ending the contest as a competitive one with two quarters still to play. Golden State’s ball movement was relentless during this stretch, and their three-point shooting was on point, contributing to a final 19-of-46 mark from deep on the night.
Third Quarter: Grizzlies Offer Mild Resistance (GS 22, MEM 23)
Credit Memphis for not folding entirely. The Grizzlies actually edged the third quarter 23-22, showing some fight and preventing the deficit from ballooning further. However, with Golden State holding a comfortable 30-point lead entering the fourth, any hope of a real comeback was purely academic. The third quarter was more about pride than genuine momentum for the home team.
Fourth Quarter: Warriors Close Strong (GS 37, MEM 36)
Even in garbage time, the Warriors kept their foot on the gas, outscoring Memphis 37-36 in the final period. The Grizzlies played competitive basketball down the stretch, but the damage had long since been done. Golden State’s balanced scoring depth was evident throughout the fourth, as multiple contributors kept the scoreboard moving.
Key Performers
Will Richard, Golden State Warriors — 21 PTS, 6 AST, 3 STL
Richard was the game’s top-rated performer and led all scorers with 21 points. Beyond the scoring, his six assists and three steals reflect a complete, two-way night that keyed Golden State’s offensive flow and disrupted Memphis in transition. The young guard continued to show why he has earned expanded responsibilities in the Warriors’ rotation.
Pat Spencer, Golden State Warriors — 9 AST
Spencer was the engine behind Golden State’s high-assist night. His nine assists were the game high and were emblematic of the Warriors’ system-based approach — moving the ball, finding the open man, and making Memphis defend multiple options on every possession. Golden State finished with 37 team assists on 49 made field goals, a remarkable ratio that illustrates how cohesive their offense was.
Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors — 8 REB
Podziemski led all Warriors rebounders with eight boards, contributing to a significant 48-34 rebounding advantage that Golden State held over Memphis. That edge on the glass helped fuel second-chance opportunities and kept Grizzlies possessions limited throughout the night.
GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies — 24 PTS, 8 REB
Jackson was the lone bright spot for Memphis, turning in the Grizzlies’ best individual performance with 24 points and eight rebounds. He was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and earned the highest in-game rating among Grizzlies players. Despite his efforts, the deficit created in the second quarter was simply too large to overcome. Ty Jerome added five assists to pace Memphis in that category.
Game Analysis
This game came down to one 12-minute stretch that defined the entire contest. Golden State’s 40-point second quarter wasn’t just about shot-making — it was a breakdown in Memphis’s defensive structure that allowed the Warriors to generate wide-open looks in transition and off the ball screen. Golden State’s 53.3% field goal percentage for the game was the product of a disciplined, pass-first approach that consistently attacked the Grizzlies’ weak spots.
Memphis’s 48.8% shooting wasn’t poor, but the team’s 72.2% free throw rate and their inability to match Golden State’s rebounding intensity (down 14 boards on the night) were telling. The Grizzlies’ 30 assists on 41 made field goals reflect decent ball movement, but it wasn’t nearly enough to compensate for the second-quarter collapse. The Warriors’ depth was on full display — rather than relying on one or two stars, multiple contributors chipped in, making Memphis unable to key their defensive adjustments on any single player.
Standings and Series Implications
With the victory, the Golden State Warriors improve to 31-28 on the season, keeping themselves in the mix for a Western Conference playoff or play-in position. Their 12-17 road record shows there is still room for improvement away from home, but nights like this one demonstrate the team’s potential when their offense is clicking. Memphis, meanwhile, falls to 21-36 — a record that puts them squarely on the outside of playoff contention. At 12-17 at home, the Grizzlies have struggled to protect FedExForum, and another lopsided home loss won’t help their standing in the Western Conference standings as the regular season winds toward its conclusion.
