The Memphis Grizzlies turned a seemingly certain defeat into a stunning 111-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors Friday night at Chase Center, erasing a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes. Memphis closed on a 17-2 run to snap an eight-game regular-season losing streak at Golden State and improve to 2-0 on the season.
The Grizzlies’ last victory over Golden State came on Dec. 19, 2024, when they cruised to a 144-93 win in Memphis. Before Friday night, the Grizzlies hadn’t won at Chase Center since Oct. 28, 2021, when they pulled out a 104-101 overtime victory.
The Grizzlies tightened up defensively when it mattered most, capitalizing on Golden State’s late-game struggles to complete the improbable comeback.
“It says a ton about our guys,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “They were very positive during the timeouts. We were solution-oriented.”
Iisalo credited his team’s commitment and trust in one another, emphasizing the importance of staying composed and finding ways to win when things aren’t going as planned.
Boozer, Jerome and Wells Deliver in the Clutch
Rookie Cameron Boozer finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds (career highs) and six assists, while Ty Jerome led Memphis with 28 points and five assists. But Jaylen Wells also played a pivotal role in the comeback, scoring 17 points and connecting on four 3-pointers.
With Golden State leading 106-94 late in the fourth quarter, Wells helped ignite the rally with a four-point play. Jerome followed with a crucial corner 3-pointer with 1:24 remaining, cutting the Warriors’ lead to 106-105.
Wells then tied the game at the free-throw line, setting the stage for Boozer’s go-ahead basket.
Recognizing a mismatch against Brandin Podziemski, Boozer and Jerome discussed how to attack the smaller defender. Boozer backed down Podziemski and knocked down a short jumper to give Memphis a 108-106 lead with 20.1 seconds remaining.
“I thought I had a mismatch so me and Ty (Jerome), we just talked about, for me to walk him down, I got the ball and just had to punish him and got the bucket,” Boozer said.
The Grizzlies never trailed again.
Jerome also credited the team’s defensive effort, particularly its nine consecutive stops down the stretch, while acknowledging that Memphis still needs to address stretches of stagnant offense.
Edey Sets the Defensive Tone
While Boozer, Jerome, and Wells provided the scoring, Zach Edey helped make the comeback possible on the defensive end.
The 7-foot-5 center finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes, posting a game-best plus-25 rating.
Edey’s ability to defend multiple matchups, including Stephen Curry, helped disrupt Golden State’s offense during the decisive stretch.
“I’ve got to really tip my hat to Zach Edey in the end, who basically got every loose ball, every rebound — just an enormous presence,” Iisalo said.
Edey said the defensive effort reflected the identity Memphis is trying to establish.
“You get in the game like that, make it grimy, get rebounds, control the possessions, get stops. That’s kind of how we want to play.”
Cam Spencer added 11 points off the bench, while Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed eight points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Warriors Collapse Down the Stretch
Golden State appeared firmly in control after former Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton knocked down a corner 3-pointer to extend the Warriors’ lead to 106-94.
But the Warriors missed their final nine field-goal attempts, going scoreless during Memphis’ 17-0 run before managing two late free throws.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr described the collapse as “an avalanche,” but credited Memphis for its defensive effort.
“Give them credit, they did a great job of defending us,” Kerr said. “I thought Zach (Edey), his defense down the stretch was really good, making things difficult for us.”
Stephen Curry finished with 24 points but acknowledged the frustration of letting the game slip away.
“Pretty much everything went wrong,” Curry said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow, considering we played really solid, especially in that second half.”
Despite the win, Memphis committed 25 turnovers and struggled with offensive consistency, areas that will need improvement moving forward.
Memphis Finds a Way
Two games into the season, the Grizzlies are showing the resilience and defensive toughness Iisalo has emphasized since training camp.
Jerome continues to provide consistent scoring, Boozer has already shown confidence in pressure situations, and Wells has demonstrated his ability to deliver timely offense. Edey’s presence gives Memphis another defensive weapon.
But beyond the individual performances, the Grizzlies’ ability to stay composed when the game appeared lost stood out.
“We’re never going to back down from anything,” Edey said. “So if someone comes at us, we’re going to hit back.”
The Grizzlies still have plenty to clean up, but Friday’s comeback offered an early glimpse of what this team can accomplish when its defense sets the tone.
Golden State had the game in hand and Memphis found a way snatch their chain back and walked out of Chase Center with a rare victory.
Up Next
The Grizzlies continue their road trip Sunday against the Sacramento Kings, looking to improve to 3-0.
