The Golden State Warriors looked like the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday. They're not going to streak through the NBA playoffs, but that's how dominant they were against the Memphis Grizzlies, taking down the West's second-best team handily, 107-84.
Stephen Curry led the way as usual for the Warriors, padding his MVP resume with 38 points and 10 assists while hitting 8-of-12 three-point shots. Klay Thompson chipped in with 28 points as the Warriors continued their assault on the Western Conference. At 59-13, they're 9.5 games up on the Grizzlies. They'll be enjoying home court throughout the playoffs.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are 5-5 in their last 10 games. They're sputtering down the stretch, but still remain a half game up on the Houston Rockets for the second spot in the West. Mike Conley had 16 points and five assists for the Grizzlies. The rest of the team struggled against a Warriors team that can't be slowed down.
It appeared the game was going to be tight. The Grizzlies stayed close in the first half, and played well to do so. The Grizzlies shot 52.9 percent from the field in the first quarter and trailed, 31-24. And even though the Warriors were moving the ball crisply and hitting shots from everywhere on the court, the Grizzlies stayed in it. They were down just 54-49 at the half.
That was with Stephen Curry hitting everything and doing his best Fred Flintstone impression.
The Grizzlies couldn't keep pace in the second half when Curry and the Warriors took off. They outscored Memphis 31-16 in the third, and the game was essentially over after that. Golden State was too much, as it has been for everyone lately, winning eight games in a row and 13 of their last 14. With a 34-2 record at home this season, the fact that the Warriors are likely to have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs is a scary thought.
It is easy to make too much of a game in March, however. The Grizzlies have struggled of late, but they are 1-1 against the Warriors this season. They won 105-98 on Dec. 16 and will face off against them again on Apr. 13 in the second-to-last game of the season. By then, the Grizzlies may have their issues resolved. And at that point, this loss in March won't matter if they get things turned around by then.
The Warriors, on the other hand, look unbeatable when they play their best. Their offense is superb, and their defense is almost as good. The Warriors aren't as dominant as Kentucky has been in college basketball this season, but they've consistently been the best team in the NBA.
3 other things we learned
The Cleveland Cavaliers are capable of let-down games, too. Fresh off a four-game winning streak -- including a dominating win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday -- the Cavaliers were flat against the Brooklyn Nets, losing 106-98. LeBron James (24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals), Kyrie Irving (26 points) and Kevin Love (18 points and seven rebounds) were solid for the Cavaliers, but the rest of the team put up a dud. J.R. Smith was just 2-of-9 from deep. Meanwhile, Joe Johnson had 20 points and nine assists and Brook Lopez added 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the way for the Nets and pick up a big win to keep pace in the playoff hunt. Speaking of...
The Eastern Conference Playoff picture is still as muddy as ever -- at least for the final few spots. The Nets' win over the Cavaliers kept them within a half-game of the Boston Celtics -- who beat the New York Knicks on Friday -- for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat are currently the No. 7 seed with a 33-39 record and the Celtics are 32-40. The Indiana Pacers (31-41) and the Charlotte Hornets (30-41) are both right there as well. The final few weeks of the season are going to be interesting as these teams shift positions.
The top, meanwhile, isn't nearly as confusing: The Atlanta Hawks clinched home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win over the Heat.
The San Antonio Spurs are still here and the Dallas Mavericks are still figuring things out. After the Mavericks picked up a big 101-94 win over the Spurs on Tuesday, San Antonio returned the favor -- and then some -- on Friday with a 94-76 shellacking of the Mavericks. It wasn't a masterpiece from the Spurs -- Boris Diaw led the Spurs with 19 points -- but it didn't take much as the Mavericks shot just 37.8 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from deep. Only Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis scored in double figures for Dallas. Ellis left the game in the third quarter and never returned. Rajon Rondo had seven points, five assists and five turnovers.
There were some moments of beauty, though, including Manu Ginobili throwing darts to Diaw. No one is counting out the Spurs anymore, and right now they're 1.5 games up on the Mavericks for the sixth seed in the West.
Play of the night
(h/t The Cauldron)
Andrew Wiggins continues to impress. The footwork on this play is so impressively quick -- and Wiggins makes it look easy. He plays the game so fluidly, even after the spin move the rookie knows exactly where he is and is in complete control. The Timberwolves lost again, but they have an amazing player for the future.
2 fun things
Tiago Splitter tried to pull off a Eurostep. It didn't work.
Ty Lawson thought he was at the pool when he celebrated a dunk from the bench.
Scores
Pistons 111, Magic 97 (Detroit Bad Boys recap | Orlando Pinstriped Post recap)
Clippers 119, 76ers 98 (Clips Nation recap | Liberty Ballers recap)
Wizards 110, Hornets 107 2OT (Bullets Forever recap | At the Hive recap)
Hawks 99, Heat 86 (Peachtree Hoops recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap)
Nets 106, Cavaliers 98 (Nets Daily recap | Fear the Sword recap)
Celtics 96, Knicks 92 (Celtics Blog recap | Posting and Toasting recap)
Raptors 94, Lakers 83 (Raptors HQ recap | Silver Screen and Roll recap)
Pelicans 102, Kings 88 (The Bird Writes recap | Sactown Royalty recap)
Rockets 120, Timberwolves 110 (The Dream Shake recap | Canis Hoopus recap)
Warriors 107, Grizzlies 84 (Golden State of Mind recap | Gizzly Bear Blues recap)
Spurs 94, Mavericks 76 (Pounding the Rock recap | Mavs Money Ball recap)
Nuggets 107, Jazz 91 (Denver Stiffs recap | SLC Dunk recap)
Trail Blazers 87, Suns 81 (Blazers' Edge recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap)