After the Warriors' 122-102 loss to the Grizzlies on Sunday at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., perhaps they should petition the NBA for teams to play just three quarters in a game.
After sticking with Memphis in the first half, the Grizzlies (18-22) outscored the Warriors 35-17 in the third quarter, turning a one-point halftime lead into a 19-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.
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The Warriors (9-32) lost both games on the road trip and now have dropped eight in a row.
Here are the takeaways:
D'Angelo Russell shines in return
Golden State's offensive has been stagnant since D'Angelo Russell injured his shoulder on Dec. 28. In his return, Russell temporarily provided the antidote, finishing with 34 points, including five 3-pointers.
Golden State Warriors
Russell got going in the second quarter, scoring 17 of Golden State's 33 points in the quarter, including three makes from beyond the arc. The Warriors made 17 treys on the night. Even as the Warriors faced a 20-point deficit, Russell still provided highlight-worthy plays, including three 3-pointers over 6-foot-11 forward Jaren Jackson, leaving the young Grizzlies star in shock.
With the current iteration of the roster, Russell will need to score in bunches for the Warriors offense to flow. On Sunday, we saw how much of a boost he can provide.
Spellman's hot streak continues
For much of the season, Omari Spellman has been hoping to change his reputation around the league. After Sunday's game, he might be well on his way to accomplishing that goal. In 26 minutes, he poured in 12 points, adding three 3-pointers.
Sunday's performance continued a recent shooting trend for Spellman. Entering the game, he shot 57 percent from 3-point range over his last four appearances.
Ask Spellman about the change in his game and he'll quickly point to his increase in confidence. He knows he belongs in this league, but now it's time to consistently show it.
Sloppy play leads to second-half collapse
Golden State's 3-point efficiency kept them in the game for the first 24 minutes. In the second half, that accuracy was erased by poor play down the stretch.
While the Warriors shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, they were outrebounded 60-47 by the Grizzlies, including 18-12 on the offensive glass. Additionally, the Warriors were outscored 47-32 by the Grizzlies' bench. Along the way, Memphis big man Jonas Valanciunas dominated, finishing with 31 points and 19 rebounds.
Golden State's woes culminated in a dismal third quarter when they were outscored by 18 points.
The Warriors won't win the talent battle on many nights this season, but third-quarter lapses are inexcusable.