Patient Warriors shoot their way to series lead over Memphis

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Once the Warriors got out of their own self-defeating way Saturday night, they proceeded to burn the Memphis Grizzlies' defense to ashes and remind the rest of the NBA how lethal their offense can be.

With six different players scoring in double figures, the Warriors singed the nets and shot 63.1 percent from the field -- including 53.1 percent beyond the arc -- in a 142-112 victory over the Grizzlies in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Don Nelson’s high-scoring teams never put up 142 points in a postseason game, nor did the 2016-17 “Super Villains” version of the Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to a core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

“Wow,” Thompson said.

“Take that, Nellie, wherever you are,” Kerr joked.

Curry scored 30 points, Jordan Poole produced 27, Thompson 21, Jonathan Kuminga 18, Andrew Wiggins 17 and Otto Porter Jr. 13. So efficient were the primary scorers that it was Curry, shooting 7-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-8 from deep, who dragged down the percentages.

“It was a performance that I knew was in them after watching the tape for the first couple games,” Kerr said. “Memphis is a really fast, athletic team. But on tape, we saw that if we were a little more patient and a little more poised, that we could get some good shots. And our players have adapted now to that speed and the type of defense we're facing, and they did a great job tonight of generating better looks.”

Thompson went from 5-of-19 and 2-of-12 from deep in Game 2 to 8-of-13 and 4-of-6 on Saturday. Poole was 11-of-17 and 3-of-5. Wiggins was 7-of-10, Kuminga 8-of-10. Porter, who was 2-of-8 through two games, was 5-of-7 in Game 3.

Golden State’s offense was so overwhelming that it reduced Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who scored a game-high 34 points, to nothing more than a colorful footnote.

“The ball was really moving tonight,” Thompson said of the Warriors, who recorded 34 assists. “When we trust each other and we just hit the open man, we've got so much great shooting that we're capable of nights like this.”

The beginning, however, was typical of these Warriors. They trailed 18-8 five minutes after tipoff, as the Grizzlies feasted off turnovers and made six of their first eight 3-point shots. Kerr signaled timeout, after which the Warriors outscored Memphis 18-10 the rest of the quarter.

As the Warriors were committing 14 turnovers in the first half, giving the Grizzlies 19 points, they also were shooting an astonishing 70.3 percent. The second half was appreciably better, with three turnovers handing Memphis five points.

Which is how the Warriors rang up a whopping 78-55 advantage after halftime.

“Just composure and intentions on offensive end,” Curry cited. “Everything that we learned from what we didn't do well in Game 2, even a little bit in Game 1. The way they defend. They are extremely athletic, and they make multiple efforts. You really have to just keep things simple and hit the open guy and make the right cut and let the game come to you.”

Thompson was, according to Kerr, the key. After shooting miserably in the first two games -- 5-of-22 from deep, 11-of-38 overall -- Thompson took a different approach. He was more patient, and he also made prudent use of pump fakes, which the coaching staff has advocated.

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“Steve has been on my head for eight years now to pump fake,” Thompson said. “He sees the game. So, I took his comments to heart. And you know, sometimes I forget how hard guys fly at me. That easy pump-fake, side-dribble or pump-fake reset is a great shot for me.”

The Warriors shot 7-of-38 from distance in Game 2 and lost in the final seconds. They punished Grizzlies in the paint during Game 3 (50 points, 73.5 percent) while going 10-of-19 from beyond the arc. They looked like a veteran team that had prepared.

The accuracy on display in Game 3 is not sustainable. It doesn’t have to be. As long as the Warriors reduce the turnovers and stay sharp on defense, they can take their chances with their shooters.

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