The atmosphere in FedExForum on Thursday night was dismal as the Golden State Warriors faced one of the worst defeats in franchise history, losing 144-93 to the Memphis Grizzlies, who dominated the game from the start.
Fans on social media expressed their shock at the Warriors’ poor performance. Despite a promising start to the season, few anticipated such a lopsided loss, leaving a strange feeling among supporters after the game.
“As someone who has watched every Wizards game since last season, I was completely unprepared for this Warriors game,” one astounded fan remarked.
The Warriors struggled offensively, hitting just 35.6% of their field goals and committing 17 turnovers. They made only 12 of 36 attempts from three-point range while allowing the Grizzlies to score 27 of 48 (56.3%) from beyond the arc. The game effectively ended in the first quarter, raising serious concerns about the Warriors’ season trajectory.
“Another game where the Warriors falter in the first quarter,” commented a fan. “The team looks slow and unathletic.”
Perhaps the most distressing signs from the game were the players’ effort and demeanor. Once the shots began to miss, their confidence waned drastically. “The lack of effort makes it tough to watch. Our passes are careless, we don’t communicate defensively, and we settle for low-percentage shots, which is why we keep losing,” one fan posted on X. “If help defense isn’t effective, switch to man-to-man or a zone that works, but instead we just lose.”
Stephen Curry had a particularly rough night, arguably the worst of his career. In 24 minutes, he scored just 2 points, recorded 1 assist, and grabbed 3 rebounds, shooting 0-7 from the field and 0-6 from three-point range, finishing with a -41 rating in the game.
“The last few weeks, these losses, turnovers, and lack of focus are on Stephen Curry,” a fan stated. “He needs to step it up.”
Curry wasn’t alone in his poor performance; almost everyone on the team struggled, including Draymond Green, who had 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists in 19 minutes, also finishing with a -42 rating.
“Steph and Draymond deserve all the blame – this whole team is a joke,” an upset fan wrote.
It was a disastrous game on both ends for the Warriors, who allowed the Grizzlies to thrive on their inefficient shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Ja Morant contributed 9 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds in just 17 minutes. Santi Aldama was the leading scorer off the bench with 21 points on 8-16 shooting.
“The Grizzlies were determined to win tonight, especially after what happened with Draymond, Edey, and Jenkins the last time they faced the Warriors,” remarked Kendrick Perkins. “They were relentless tonight.”
This season has been a harsh reality check for the Warriors. Following Klay Thompson’s departure and a roster overhaul, they had aspirations of contending for a championship after a strong start. However, things took a downturn, leaving them 8th in the standing
In the wake of this painful loss, the Warriors will work to regroup and make necessary adjustments. While Steve Kerr will likely change up the rotation, the team’s overall improvement is essential for returning to championship contention.
Next, the Warriors will face the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center at 8:00 PM EST. This game will be their last on the road before returning to Chase Center for a match against the Indiana Pacers on December 23 at 10:00 PM EST. They will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, December 25, at 8:00 PM EST.
