Warriors instant analysis: Golden State collapses vs. Grizzlies in home opener

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Oct 24, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

SAN FRANCISCO — What could go wrong did go wrong in a disastrous final stretch of the Golden State Warriors’ 111-108 defeat to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

The Warriors led by 12 with 3:47 left in the game, the Chase Center was rocking in the team’s home opener against the young Grizzlies. All the Warriors had to do was take care of the ball and make a few shots.

The Warriors did neither as the Grizzlies rallied to stun Golden State.

With the Warriors having a chance to take the lead or at least tie with 13 seconds remaining, Draymond Green was called for a moving screen as Steph Curry moved the ball into the frontcourt. The Warriors were called for a technical and Ty Jerome hit the free throw, enabling Memphis to salt the game away. The Warriors finished the game on an 0-for-9 cold streak.

The Grizzlies outscored the Warriors 17-0 near the end of the game until Yaxel Lendeborg’s two free free throws with 0.5 seconds left.

A surefire victory ended in defeat. It also wasted a huge performance from their two best young players.

Brandin Podziemski and Lendeborg helped lead an 11-0 third quarter run that flipped the game. Podziemski missed Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers with a sore back, but looked to be in top shape against the Grizzlies. He shook off a hard foul by Zach Edey in the first quarter and finished with 18 points and three rebounds, plus a number of hustle plays.

Lendeborg did not score in the first quarter but concluded Friday with 18 points, six assists and 13 rebounds. He got stuffed at the rim by Edey and former Warrior Quinten Post, but that only seemed to get him going. Lendeborg shot 12 free throws thanks to his constant drives, including six in rapid succession in the second quarter.

It was not just all the young guys though. Curry poured in 24, and De’Anthony Melton scored 10 after going scoreless in the opener.

Cam Boozer scored 25 for the Grizzlies, and Jerome put up 28 points on his former team.

The Warriors were coming off a blowout loss to the Lakers in their season-opener, and early on, 0-2 looked inevitable.

The Warriors fell behind by 11 midway through the second quarter, with Curry stuck on the bench with three fouls. Boozer and Jerome were getting any shot they wanted.

Head coach Steve Kerr showed trust in his veteran as the game slipped away, putting Curry back in. The Warriors, aided by both Curry’s presence and the Grizzlies putting Golden State in the bonus, clawed back to make it 60-56 at halftime.

Podziemski gave the Warriors their first lead of the third quarter when his 3-pointer from the wing put Golden State on top 86-84, and then he cut for another layup on a smart cut as the Warriors went on their entire run without Curry or Green on the floor. The Warriors led 90-84 after three quarters but could not hold the lead.

The Warriors (0-2) will fly to Phoenix for the second leg of a back-to-back in Phoenix on Saturday. During his pregame press conference, Kerr said Curry and Green’s availability is yet to be determined.

Tempers flare

The officials handed out four technical fouls to four different players.

Isaiah Stewart and Green had to be separated near the Grizzlies bench with 4:20 left in the second quarter. Green earned his first technical foul when he and Stewart were jawing with one another during a Lendeborg free throw attempt with 3:41 left in the first half.

As the teams walked off the court with the Warriors leading the Grizzlies 60-56 at halftime, Green and Stewart had words for one another as they went back to the locker room.

And then, with 9:45 remaining in the third quarter, Lendeborg and Jerome received a double tech for another verbal spat.

Ike gets the surprise start

Facing the gargantuan Memphis lineup that started the 7-3 Edey next to 6-10 Boozer, the Warriors dug deep into their bench.

Missing backup Charles Bassey, they asked undrafted rookie Graham Ike to make his first career start, replacing Gui Santos. It did not begin in glorious fashion, with Ike committing two fouls in the Grizzlies’ first three possessions.

But after knocking down an open 3-pointer that the Grizzlies dared him to take, Ike did about as well as one could hope for from an unheralded player placed in his position. Ike finished with 10 points and made 4 of 7 shots while grabbing three rebounds.