Carter scores 32, Grizzlies beat Warriors 132-117 in finale
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Memphis rookie Jevon Carter had the game of his career on the final night of the regular season against a skeleton crew of Golden State Warriors.
Carter, who entered the game averaging 3.7 points, scored a career-high 32 points, Justin Holiday added 22 and the Grizzlies beat the Warriors 132-117 Wednesday night in the regular-season finale featuring plenty of reserves for both teams.
Carter, a second-round draft choice last summer, was 10 of 18 from the field and 8 of 12 from 3-point range. Memphis was helped by 21-of-46 shooting from outside the arc.
''I just figured why not go out with a bang,'' Carter said. ''Last game of the season, give it all I've got.''
Bruno Caboclo scored 21 points, and Delon Wright recorded his third triple-double in the last four games with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 21 points, while Klay Thompson finished with 19. Durant and Thompson were the only Golden State starters to play. Both saw action only in the first half.
Golden State entered the game with its playoff position set atop of the Western Conference and sat most of its starters, either by plan or as a bit of a precaution after Stephen Curry tweaked his ankle in Tuesday night's win at New Orleans. Curry, along with Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins and Shaun Livingston, took Wednesday night off.
Meanwhile, Memphis has played short-handed for weeks with various injuries. Nine players who logged significant minutes were not available, including point guard Mike Conley.
That left bench players for both teams to close out the season in a run-and-gun, minimal-defense affair. Memphis held an 86-68 lead at the half. The 86 points was a Memphis franchise record for points in a half. Carter already had reached 19 points at that point.
''Confidence and work,'' Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff said regarding the keys to Carter's performance. ''He has put in a ton of time working at it.''
The importance of the game for the Warriors was reflected in coach Steve Kerr's postgame comments - which focused on this weekend's first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
''It's a good matchup geographically for us,'' Kerr said. ''But it's a hell of an opponent.''
TIP-INS
Warriors: A 3-pointer by Jacob Evans III in the first quarter was the fourth of the game, setting a franchise record for 3-pointers in a season. The previous record of 1,077 was set in 2015-16 . ... Quinn Cook's 3-pointer near the midway point of the first quarter put him past 500 points for the season. ... Durant was whistled for a technical in the first quarter - his 16th of the season. Under NBA rules, a player is suspended one game after the 16th. However, Warriors officials said the rule doesn't carry over from the regular season into the postseason.
Grizzlies: The 45 points in the first quarter were a season high for any period this season and only one less than the franchise record set against the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 9, 2007. ... Carter's previous high this season was 15 points on March 2 at Dallas. ... Wright's third triple-double moved him to second place on the franchise list behind Marc Gasol, who had five.
LIMTED MINUTES
While Thompson and Durant did play, Kerr made it clear before the game, they would not spend many minutes on the floor.
Asked if Curry twisting his ankle changed his approach on the finale, the Warriors coach replied: ''Our approach is we've got to stay ready, keep our conditioning but not expose ourselves to too much risk, and that's a tricky thing to balance.''
Durant played 18-plus minutes, Thompson just less than 17.
LONG LIST
The Grizzlies had 28 different players don their uniform this season, matching their record for most players to see action for a team in a season. Carter became the 20th player to lead the team in scoring in a game. When someone referred it as an absurd stat, Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff replied: ''It is.'' Bickerstaff then reflected on the positive. ''Instead of thinking about that as a difficult thing, you think about how that means your team was playing. Your team wasn't a bunch of hogs.''
Durant noticed too. ''They have an all-for-one scoring group,'' he said. ''They can have anybody lead the team in scoring at any time in the game from anywhere.''
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host Los Angeles Clippers in first round of Western Conference playoffs.
Grizzlies: The offseason.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:36 | Quinn Cook missed jump shot | |||
11:32 | Defensive rebound by Bruno Caboclo | |||
11:16 | Out of bounds turnover on Justin Holiday | |||
11:00 | +2 | Jordan Bell made dunk, assist by Kevin Durant | 2-0 | |
10:34 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
10:31 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
10:23 | Tyler Dorsey missed jump shot | |||
10:19 | Delon Wright missed reverse layup, blocked by Andrew Bogut | |||
10:19 | Offensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
10:10 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot | 2-6 | |
10:10 | Shooting foul on Jordan Bell | |||
10:03 | Kevin Durant missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:58 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
9:56 | +2 | Justin Holiday made jump shot, assist by Ivan Rabb | 2-8 | |
9:49 | +2 | Kevin Durant made dunk, assist by Klay Thompson | 4-8 | |
9:39 | Shooting foul on Kevin Durant | |||
9:39 | Unsportsmanlike technical foul | |||
9:39 | +1 | Justin Holiday made free throw | 4-9 | |
9:39 | +1 | Delon Wright made 1st of 2 free throws | 4-10 | |
9:39 | +1 | Delon Wright made 2nd of 2 free throws | 4-11 | |
9:27 | +2 | Klay Thompson made reverse layup, assist by Andrew Bogut | 6-11 | |
9:16 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ivan Rabb | 6-14 | |
8:49 | +3 | Bruno Caboclo made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 8-17 | |
8:37 | Shooting foul on Ivan Rabb | |||
8:37 | +1 | Jordan Bell made 1st of 2 free throws | 9-17 | |
8:27 | +3 | Delon Wright made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ivan Rabb | 10-20 | |
8:10 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot | 12-20 | |
8:01 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 12-23 | |
7:53 | +3 | Quinn Cook made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Klay Thompson | 15-23 | |
7:40 | Defensive rebound by Jordan Bell | |||
7:23 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:21 | Defensive rebound by Justin Holiday | |||
7:16 | Shooting foul on Quinn Cook | |||
7:16 | +1 | Delon Wright made 1st of 2 free throws | 15-24 | |
7:16 | +1 | Delon Wright made 2nd of 2 free throws | 15-25 | |
6:57 | Defensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
6:53 | Out of bounds turnover on Justin Holiday | |||
6:42 | Shooting foul on Bruno Caboclo | |||
6:42 | Jordan Bell missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
6:42 | GS team rebound | |||
6:42 | +1 | Jordan Bell made 2nd of 2 free throws | 16-25 | |
6:25 | Ivan Rabb missed layup | |||
6:17 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 19-25 | |
6:04 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made hook shot | 19-27 | |
5:49 | Quinn Cook missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:47 | Defensive rebound by Justin Holiday | |||
5:38 | +2 | Ivan Rabb made finger-roll layup, assist by Tyler Dorsey | 19-29 | |
5:14 | Offensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
5:13 | Tyler Dorsey missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:13 | Defensive rebound by Klay Thompson | |||
5:05 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:00 | Personal foul on Andrew Bogut | |||
4:51 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made jump shot, assist by Tyler Dorsey | 22-31 | |
4:40 | Shooting foul on Justin Holiday | |||
4:40 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 1st of 2 free throws | 23-31 | |
4:40 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 2nd of 2 free throws | 24-31 | |
4:31 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jevon Carter | 24-34 | |
4:11 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 26-34 | |
3:56 | Tyler Zeller missed hook shot | |||
3:54 | Defensive rebound by Andrew Bogut | |||
3:49 | Personal foul on Justin Holiday | |||
3:40 | GS team rebound | |||
3:38 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 28-34 | |
3:21 | Yuta Watanabe missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:18 | Offensive rebound by Julian Washburn | |||
3:17 | +2 | Julian Washburn made jump shot | 28-36 | |
3:06 | +2 | Klay Thompson made turnaround jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 30-36 | |
2:42 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Kevon Looney | 32-36 | |
2:17 | Kevin Durant missed floating jump shot | |||
2:14 | Offensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
1:46 | Kevon Looney missed jump shot | |||
1:43 | Defensive rebound by Julian Washburn | |||
1:36 | Personal foul on Jacob Evans | |||
1:36 | +1 | Jevon Carter made 2nd of 2 free throws | 35-41 | |
1:22 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot, assist by Jonas Jerebko | 37-41 | |
1:03 | Shooting foul on Jonas Jerebko | |||
1:03 | +1 | Tyler Zeller made 1st of 2 free throws | 37-42 | |
1:01 | Defensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
0:54 | Personal foul on Yuta Watanabe | |||
0:54 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 2nd of 2 free throws | 39-42 | |
0:31 | +3 | Delon Wright made 3-pt. jump shot | 39-45 | |
0:08 | +2 | Jonas Jerebko made jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 41-45 | |
0:00 | Jevon Carter missed reverse layup | |||
0:00 | MEM team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:19 | +2 | Kevon Looney made reverse layup, assist by Andre Iguodala | 43-47 | |
11:02 | Offensive rebound by Jevon Carter | |||
10:58 | +2 | Julian Washburn made jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 43-49 | |
10:45 | +3 | Damion Lee made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevon Looney | 46-49 | |
10:21 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made hook shot | 46-51 | |
10:08 | Jacob Evans missed finger-roll layup | |||
10:03 | Defensive rebound by Tyler Zeller | |||
9:58 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made floating jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 46-53 | |
9:36 | Kevon Looney missed turnaround jump shot | |||
9:33 | Defensive rebound by Julian Washburn | |||
9:18 | Defensive rebound by Damion Lee | |||
9:00 | Delon Wright missed finger-roll layup | |||
8:55 | Offensive rebound by Yuta Watanabe | |||
8:55 | Yuta Watanabe missed dunk | |||
8:48 | Defensive rebound by Yuta Watanabe | |||
8:44 | +3 | Jevon Carter made 3-pt. jump shot | 46-56 | |
8:21 | Personal foul on Yuta Watanabe | |||
8:12 | Personal foul on Julian Washburn | |||
8:00 | +2 | Kevon Looney made dunk, assist by Jacob Evans | 48-56 | |
7:39 | +2 | Julian Washburn made jump shot | 48-58 | |
7:24 | 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:13 | +2 | Justin Holiday made jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 48-60 | |
6:52 | +2 | Damion Lee made finger-roll layup, assist by Andre Iguodala | 50-60 | |
6:28 | Out of bounds turnover on Andre Iguodala | |||
6:09 | Offensive foul on Bruno Caboclo | |||
5:50 | Andre Iguodala missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:47 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
5:26 | +3 | Jevon Carter made 3-pt. jump shot | 50-66 | |
5:08 | +2 | Kevin Durant made driving dunk | 52-66 | |
4:57 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made driving dunk, assist by Delon Wright | 52-68 | |
4:41 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot | 54-68 | |
4:26 | +3 | Bruno Caboclo made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyler Dorsey | 54-71 | |
4:10 | Shooting foul on Ivan Rabb | |||
4:10 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 2nd of 3 free throws | 56-71 | |
4:10 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 3rd of 3 free throws | 57-71 | |
4:00 | Out of bounds turnover on Delon Wright | |||
3:48 | Klay Thompson missed fade-away jump shot | |||
3:45 | Defensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
3:30 | Shooting foul on Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
3:30 | +1 | Bruno Caboclo made 1st of 2 free throws | 57-72 | |
3:09 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot | 59-73 | |
2:44 | Offensive rebound by Jordan Bell | |||
2:38 | Justin Holiday missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:33 | +2 | Jordan Bell made dunk, assist by Quinn Cook | 63-73 | |
2:33 | Full timeout called | |||
2:20 | +1 | Tyler Dorsey made 1st of 2 free throws | 63-74 | |
2:20 | +1 | Tyler Dorsey made 2nd of 2 free throws | 63-75 | |
1:39 | Personal foul on Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
1:27 | Shooting foul on Jordan Bell | |||
1:27 | +1 | Jevon Carter made 1st of 2 free throws | 66-76 | |
1:27 | +1 | Jevon Carter made 2nd of 2 free throws | 66-77 | |
0:33 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made finger-roll layup | 68-81 | |
0:26 | Bad pass turnover on Quinn Cook, stolen by Bruno Caboclo | |||
0:19 | Offensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
0:11 | Offensive foul on Quinn Cook | |||
0:00 | Jacob Evans missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:00 | GS team rebound |