For more than three quarters, the Grizzlies’ four-game West Coast road trip was off to a frustrating start. Shots wouldn’t fall, the Golden State Warriors had more energy, and whenever the Grizzlies would make a mini-run, cutting the deficit to 15 or 13 or 12, the Warriors seemed to respond with a long jumper, pushing it back to 15 or 17 or 18.
Eighteen was where it stood a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter, with the Grizzlies down 70-52 and seemingly a few possessions from calling it a night. That’s when the defensive intensity started to ramp up, and the Grizzlies closed on an improbable, ferocious 33-15 run in the final eight minutes in which they forced eight Warriors turnovers on seven steals (three from Tony Allen).
Mike Conley scored a layup off an Allen steal and Rudy Gay pass to give the Grizzlies the lead (86-85), then Gay extended it with fade-away 17-footer at the :22 mark to put the Grizzlies up 88-85.