Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince CarterBrandon Dill/The Associated Press
The Golden State Warriors' 16-game winning streak is over, and they're ready to start anew.
First, coach Steve Kerr wants a couple practices.
The Warriors wrapped up a three-game road swing along with the longest winning streak in franchise history Tuesday night in Memphis with the Grizzlies beating Golden State 105-98 thanks to 20 straight points by their bench to start the second quarter.
"We understand it was a nice run and something the franchise has never done before," Golden State star Stephen Curry said. "It's put us in a good position to take a tough loss like we did tonight and keep moving. We'll be all right. . It was fun while it lasted."
The Warriors still have the NBA's best record at 21-3. They just lost for the first time since Nov. 11 against the Spurs, also the last team to beat Memphis. This was the first time in NBA history in which both teams had 19 or more wins in the first 24 games – the Grizzlies improved to 20-4.
Kerr noted the streak hadn't gotten close to the 27 straight the Miami Heat won between February and March 2013, let alone threatening the Lakers' 33-game streak back in 1971-72. All Golden State's streak meant was an increase of a couple extra reporters following the team.
"I haven't thought about the streak really at all other than just enjoying the winning part," Kerr said. "The biggest thing now we need is a couple days of practice. We haven't had a real day of practice in a long time. We won't have one (Wednesday), but we'll have a couple this weekend, which will be good for us. We just have to bounce back."
Kerr remains tied with Mike Dunleavy for the record with 16 straight wins by a rookie head coach, matching what Dunleavy did in 1991 with the Clippers. Golden State still has the NBA's best record at 21-3.
"We won 16 games in a row, and that's hard to come by," Warriors forward Draymond Green said. "It doesn't happen every day. It was a great streak. Streaks are made to be broken. We can't expect to win 60 games in a row."
The Warriors played without centre Andrew Bogut for a fourth straight game, and he will be re-evaluated Wednesday after the team said before tipoff that Bogut now has chondromalacia and bone edema in his knee instead of simply tendinitis. They also were without David Lee, who's dealing with a hamstring problem.
Golden State found a way to counter Memphis' inside strength by matching the Grizzlies point for point in the paint, and the Warriors even outrebounded Memphis (49-48).
But Marc Gasol scored 24 and Zach Randolph added 17 as they combined for the same amount of points as Klay Thompson, who had 22, and Curry who had 19. Curry struggled, hitting 9 of 25 from the floor, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range.
Vince Carter and Beno Udrih led Memphis' bench in taking control of the game scoring the first 20 points of the second quarter, turning Golden State's 30-24 lead at the end of the first into a 44-30 deficit even as the Warriors had starters Thompson and Harrison Barnes on the floor. Carter hit three straight 3s and tied his season high of 11 during the quarter and finished with 16 points.
"They deserve all the credit for what they did," Gasol said of the Grizzlies' reserves. "They came in, I thought defensively they did an amazing job."
The Warriors trailed by 14 and got within two twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 90-88 on an alley-oop dunk for Shaun Livingston with 5:09 to go. Memphis responded with a 7-0 run capped by two foul shots for Courtney Lee after Kerr and Warriors guard Andre Iguodala each picked up a technical foul.
Curry missed back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds, and he wasn't happy at throwing away a pass late with the Warriors missing a couple key shots.
"We got decent shots, we just had to put together a perfect end of the game to come back from the deficit," Curry said.
PELICANS 119, JAZZ 111
NEW ORLEANS – Anthony Davis returned from a chest injury and scored 31 points, helping New Orleans rally for the win.
Davis, who missed most of Friday night's victory over Cleveland and all of Sunday night's loss to Golden State, played with a protective vest that did not appear to inhibit him. He had nine rebounds and three blocks, with all three rejections coming in the pivotal final four minutes.
Ryan Anderson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 28 points for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans added 19 points, scoring nine during New Orleans' 41-point fourth quarter.
Enes Kanter scored 29 points for Utah, which has lost three straight and 12 of 13.
THUNDER 104, KINGS 92
SACRAMENTO – Russell Westbrook had 32 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant scored 26 and Oklahoma City beat the reeling Sacramento Kings for its seventh straight win.
The Kings played their first game since Michael Malone was fired as coach and lead assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to interim coach. They trailed 9-0 after 2 1/2 minutes and dropped to 2-8 while franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins recovers from viral meningitis.
The Thunder went ahead by 16 in the first quarter, led by just seven at halftime and pulled away again in the closing minutes behind their star duo. Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 since Durant returned from a broken right foot.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points, and reserve Carl Landry added 14 for the Kings.
MAVERICKS 107, KNICKS 87
NEW YORK – Tyson Chandler had three dunks during Dallas' sizzling start to his return to New York, and Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points for the Mavericks.
Chandler played a key role in the NBA's highest-scoring team putting together a nearly unstoppable start that gave it the lead for good. Monta Ellis added 14 points, and Chandler Parsons had 13 after missing a game with a sore lower back.
Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points for the Knicks. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 but was 5 for 17 in another poor shooting effort.
Shortly after hearing mostly cheers during introductions, Chandler dunked a lob pass for the game's opening basket. He threw down another alley-oop that gave Dallas 10 baskets in its first 11 shots.
HEAT 95, NETS 91
NEW YORK – Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, leading Miami to the road win.
The Heat had five players score in double figures, including three reserves. Starting forward Luol Deng had 18 points, and rookie Shabazz Napier scored 11.
The game was delayed for 29 minutes in the first quarter when the installation of a new green roof at Barclays Center led to a water leak.
Mason Plumlee had 21 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, and Joe Johnson scored 16 points. Deron Williams added 15 points and 11 assists.
WIZARDS 109, TIMBERWOLVES 95
WASHINGTON – John Wall scored 21 points and equaled a career high with 17 assists, helping Washington to its fifth consecutive win.
Washington scored 14 straight to take a 14-2 lead less than 4 1/2 minutes into the game. Wall had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter.
Rasual Butler had 23 points for the Wizards.
Thaddeus Young, who led a third-quarter charge, had a season-high 29 points for Minnesota, which has lost nine of 10. Shabazz Muhammad scored 21.