Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was ejected after he unloaded at the referees during his short-handed side’s 123-95 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Desmond Bane scored 22 points while De’Anthony Melton and Dillon Brooks added 21 points each as the Grizzlies, who were without Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr, solidified their hold on second place in the NBA’s Western Conference.
The match-up was always going to be a tough one for the Warriors, with NBA superstar Stephen Curry, who has missed six games with a left foot sprain, out of action along with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Otto Porter Jr.
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And with the Warriors having lost five of their past six games heading into the match with the Grizzlies, it wasn’t any easier up against a Memphis side that many are tipping to have a deep playoff run when the post-season basketball kicks off next month.
Frustrations clearly rubbed off on Kerr, who became very animated at the end of the first half when he let the officials know that he was unhappy with their calls. And two technicals came in rapid succession as he mouthed at the officials.
Warriors centre Kevon Looney said he was walking toward the locker room when Kerr erupted.
“I seen Steve going crazy,” Looney said. “I know once he goes there, there ain’t no stopping him.”
Social media was quick to react, with many leading NBA journalists and pundits having their say.
https://twitter.com/ChrisVernonShow/status/1508613293526634496https://twitter.com/MontePooleNBCS/status/1508613175993790466https://twitter.com/mollyhannahm/status/1508613295917445124https://twitter.com/BradCarson/status/1508613410124087299https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1508613284576075778
Neither team was shooting well to start, and Memphis was a step slow to 50-50 balls. The teams combined to make only 13 of 45 shots in the first quarter.
Both were still mired at 25 per cent each early in the second quarter before scoring started picking up — for Memphis. Not Golden State.
“We obviously started a little slow,” Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown said after the game.
“(The Grizzlies) were a lot more physical than us in the first half. We didn’t compete at the level that we felt we needed to coming into their building.”
The Grizzlies shot 59 per cent in the second, including making four of six from beyond the arc. With the Warriors still stuck at 25 per cent shooting, Memphis outscored the Warriors 43-21 in the second and held a 63-37 lead at the break.
Jordan Poole helped the Warriors cut into Memphis’ lead slightly with 13 points in the third, but Golden State never got within less than 18 points.
Memphis carried a 95-67 lead into the final quarter.
“That type of deficit is hard to overcome when you have all of your main guys,” said Brown, who praised his team for its second-half play.