MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Stephen Curry experienced an unprecedented night on the court, marking a challenging moment for the Golden State Warriors. In a surprising turn of events, Curry failed to score a single point over 24 minutes of play, an occurrence that had never happened in his illustrious 16-year career. The Warriors suffered a staggering 144-93 defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies, falling behind by as many as 57 points in the game.
“We ran into a buzz saw,” Curry remarked, reflecting on the disheartening loss. “We obviously know we are better than that. I’ve got to be better than that.” The 51-point defeat is also notable, as it represents the largest margin of loss and deficit in the NBA for this season.
Coach Steve Kerr expressed the humbling reality of such a loss, acknowledging his team’s struggles after starting the season strong with a record of 12-3 but now facing nine losses in their last 11 games. “You lose by 51, that’s humbling,” he stated.
Curry struggled throughout the night, finishing with a 0 for 7 shooting line, missing all six attempts from beyond the arc. It marked just the fifth instance in his career where he took shots in a game without tallying a field goal, as he had previously been 0 for 1, 0 for 2, 0 for 3, and 0 for 4 in prior matches. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins commented on Curry’s usual prowess, stating, “He’s one of the toughest covers in the history of the NBA,” but noted that wasn’t the case on this particular night. “That was embarrassing,” Curry added in light of the outcome.
The Warriors’ loss also tied into a broader trend, as it became only the fifth time in franchise history that they lost a regular-season game by over 50 points. Notably, three of these significant defeats have occurred within the last five years. The worst loss in franchise history remains a 63-point disgrace against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
It was a unique occurrence for the duo of Curry and Draymond Green, who had never both gone scoreless in a game they played together until this loss. “There’s a first time for everything, right?” Curry quipped. Despite the overwhelming defeat, Brandin Podziemski and Andrew Wiggins managed to find some success, combining for 15 of 24 shots. Conversely, the rest of the Warriors’ roster struggled mightily, shooting only 25.8%, highlightened by Dennis Schroder’s 2 for 12 performance during his debut with the team.
The Warriors have consistently faced significant deficits over the past six seasons, trailing by at least 45 points in at least one game each year. Ja Morant, a guard for the Grizzlies, expressed confidence about what their team could achieve once they are fully cohesive defensively.
As it stands, the Grizzlies now hold the two highest victory margins in the current NBA season, including a 45-point win over Portland earlier in November. Historically, Memphis previously led Golden State by 55 points in Game 5 of the 2022 Western Conference semifinals, winning that match by 39 points. The Warriors, however, managed to win that series in six games, eventually claiming the NBA title that season.
“I know who we are. I know what our team is about,” Kerr said, remaining optimistic despite the setback. He emphasized the necessity for improvement in execution, particularly under pressure, while stressing the importance of ball management and securing quality shots moving forward.