The Golden State Warriors may have been down, but they were certainly not out as they entered Game 4 with utter determination.
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NBA Playoffs Game 4 preview: Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
NBA Playoffs 2015: Golden State Warriors need MVP Stephen Curry to step up
The Warriors were looking for a statement win, and they achieved exactly that with a 101-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies to tie the series at 2-2.
The game stayed close for most of the first quarter, but the Warriors took a 28-20 lead to end the first quarter as point guard Stephen Curry made a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Curry had been scoreless until 3:30 remained in the first quarter, but he finished the quarter with seven points.
The Warriors offense became too much for the Grizzlies in the second quarter as they entered halftime with a 61-44 lead.
Curry continued to dominate as he gave the Warriors a 15-point lead with a minute left in the quarter with this amazing shot as he was fouled before he completed the three-point play with a free throw.
The third quarter was quiet as the scoring between the two teams was even, but the Warriors were able to extend their lead to over 20 points.
The Warriors continued to hold onto their big lead in the fourth quarter, and small forward Andre Iguodala put the icing with this wide-open slam dunk.
After three minutes were left in the game, the Warriors pulled their starters and held on for a convincing victory.
Curry bounced back from his underwhelming performances in the last two games by scoring 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, and he added eight rebounds and five assists. He also shot 4-for-9 on his three-pointers.
Power forward Draymond Green also turned his game around with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, and he added 10 rebounds while shooting 3-for-8 from the three-point line.
Most of his scoring production came in the first quarter, as he scored 13 of them in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson added 15 points, and center Andrew Bogut came through with nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
Green also made a major impact on defense once again and proved why he was a Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner.
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol scored 19 points, but it was on 7-of-19 shooting although he was able to come up with 10 rebounds and six assists.
Power forward Zach Randolph also regressed from Game 3 and was held to 12 points despite grabbing 11 boards.
Point guard Mike Conley was held to 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting, and the entire Grizzlies team collectively shot 37.5 percent from the field.
Meanwhile, the Warriors used the three-point line as their ace in the hole once again as they sunk 42.4 percent of their shots from downtown.
Many NBA fans would consider the Warriors as a team who lives and dies by the three-pointer, and they haven’t proven any differently as their poor three-point shooting in Game 3 was what cost them.
Excelling beyond the arc equally made a big impact for the Warriors, and they will have momentum heading into Game 5 as they are determined to prove themselves as title favorites. They will face the Grizzlies at home for Game 5.
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