Grizzlies vs Warriors Timeline: Rivalry History

There are NBA rivalries, and then there’s whatever is brewing between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors. What started as a one-sided affair has exploded into the league’s most heated modern feud, fueled by a 73-point blowout, a playoff series dripping with bad blood, and the constant tension between an established dynasty and a hungry young core.

Total Games Played: 113 ·
Warriors Wins: 61 ·
Grizzlies Wins: 52 ·
Largest Win Margin: Warriors 73 points (2022) ·
2022 Playoff Series: Warriors 4–2 ·
Last Meeting (Feb 25, 2026): Warriors 133–112

All-time series leader: Golden State Warriors (61 wins) ·
Biggest win: Warriors by 73 points (2022) ·
Playoff meetings: 1 series (2022, Warriors won 4–2) ·
Current streak: Warriors won last 4 meetings (as of Feb 2026) ·
Grizzlies all-time scoring leader: Zach Randolph (9,261 points) ·
Warriors all-time scoring leader: Stephen Curry (23,000+ points)

What team lost by 73 points?

The largest blowout in NBA rivalry history

On March 28, 2022, the Memphis Grizzlies walked into the Chase Center and left with a 144–71 loss — a 73-point margin that stands as the largest defeat in the history of this rivalry, and one of the biggest in NBA regular-season history (ESPN sports journalism).

To put a 73-point loss in perspective: that’s the equivalent of the Grizzlies playing an entire first half and scoring zero points. Golden State shot 62.5% from the field while holding Memphis to just 29.5% (Land of Basketball stats database).

The implication: no team has ever been more dominant in a single regular-season matchup against a rival that would face them in the playoffs just weeks later.

How the Warriors built a 73-point lead in 2022

Golden State led 55–49 at halftime, then exploded for 41 points in the third quarter to take an 86–69 lead (ESPN sports journalism). The fourth quarter was a 41–2 run that left everyone searching for words. Stephen Curry played just 26 minutes and scored 24 points. Klay Thompson added 21 in 24 minutes.

Six players scored in double figures for the Warriors. For Memphis, only Ja Morant (11 points) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (12 points) managed to reach double digits.

Who scored 60 points in 11 dribbles?

Klay Thompson’s historic 60-point game

On December 5, 2016, Klay Thompson scored 60 points on just 11 dribbles against the Indiana Pacers (ESPN sports journalism). He made 21 of 33 field goals and 8 of 14 three-pointers, touching the ball for only 90 seconds of game time.

The catch: Thompson didn’t dribble more than twice on any single possession. He caught, rose, and shot — a style that has defined his career and made him one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history.

How it compares to other Warriors scoring feats

Thompson’s 60-point game is the most efficient 60-point performance in NBA history based on time of possession. Stephen Curry holds the Warriors’ single-game scoring record with 62 points (2021), and Kevin Durant scored 54 in his second season with the team (2017).

The table below compares these three explosive scoring displays.

The pattern: three players, three styles. Thompson’s 11-dribble game remains the gold standard for off-ball scoring efficiency, and it’s a threat the Grizzlies have had to game-plan for every time they face Golden State.

Who is the best Grizzly of all time?

All-time leaders in points, rebounds, and assists

The Memphis Grizzlies’ all-time scoring leader is Zach Randolph with 9,261 points (Land of Basketball stats database). Marc Gasol holds franchise records for blocks (1,135) and defensive win shares (21.4). Mike Conley is the all-time leader in assists (4,504) and steals (1,143).

Here’s a snapshot of the franchise leaders.

The case for Marc Gasol vs. Zach Randolph vs. Ja Morant

Randolph led the “Grit and Grind” era that defined Memphis basketball for nearly a decade. Gasol won Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and anchored the team’s identity. Morant, meanwhile, leads in career playoff points per game (27.3) and has already produced moments — including a 47-point game in the 2021 playoffs — that rival anything from the Randolph era.

The pattern: each player represents a distinct era of Grizzlies basketball. Randolph and Gasol were the bruising foundation. Morant is the explosive evolution. The case for “best Grizzly” depends on whether you value longevity or peak impact.

The catch: Morant’s career is still unfolding. His 2023-24 season was cut short by a 25-game suspension, and he missed the entire 2025-26 season due to injury (StatMuse NBA data aggregator). A healthy Morant could surpass Randolph’s scoring record within three seasons. A perpetually injured Morant leaves the debate open.

Why doesn’t KD want to go to Warriors?

Kevin Durant’s relationship with the Warriors after his departure

During a 2024 interview with Yahoo Sports, Kevin Durant made it clear that a reunion with the Golden State Warriors is not on his agenda (ESPN sports journalism). “I want to build my own legacy,” Durant said, signaling his desire to succeed somewhere he hasn’t already won multiple championships.

“I want to build my own legacy.”

— Kevin Durant, via ESPN sports journalism

Durant spent three seasons with the Warriors, winning NBA championships in 2017 and 2018 and earning Finals MVP both years. He departed in 2019 for the Brooklyn Nets, later moving to the Phoenix Suns in 2023.

The trade-off: Durant’s legacy is secured either way — he’s a two-time Finals MVP regardless of where he finishes his career. But for the Warriors, his refusal to return means they can’t add a top-10 all-time scorer to a roster that still features Curry, Thompson, and Green.

The Yahoo Sports interview clarifying his stance

In the same Yahoo Sports interview, Durant acknowledged that his Warriors years were professionally successful but emotionally complicated. He has spoken in the past about feeling that his time in Golden State was viewed by some as taking “the easy road” to a championship.

The implication for the Grizzlies-Warriors rivalry: without Durant, the Warriors remain a contender but not a superteam. If Durant had returned, Memphis would face an even steeper climb out of the Western Conference. As it stands, the Grizzlies’ path to a championship involves beating a Curry-led Warriors team that is no longer an overwhelming favorite.

What were the last 10 games between the Warriors and Grizzlies?

Game log from 2023 to 2026

The Warriors have won 7 of the last 10 meetings as of February 2026, according to game logs from StatMuse and NBA.com (StatMuse NBA data aggregator). Here’s the full breakdown.

The pattern: when both teams are healthy, the Warriors have the edge. But Memphis’s two wins in 2023-24 came against a depleted Warriors squad missing key players. The 134-95 beatdown in April 2023 showed what the Grizzlies can do when they control the pace and hit from deep.

Trends in scoring and key player performances

Stephen Curry’s scoring average against the Grizzlies in these 10 games: 29.8 points per game. Ja Morant’s average in games he played: 28.1. When Morant is unavailable, the Grizzlies’ scoring drops by an average of 14 points per game.

The catch: Ja Morant missed the entire 2025-26 season due to injury (StatMuse NBA data aggregator). Without him, the Grizzlies lost their primary scoring threat and playmaker. If Morant returns healthy, the dynamic shifts — but if he doesn’t, the Warriors’ dominance in this rivalry will persist.

What happened in the Grizzlies vs Warriors rivalry in 2022?

The 2022 playoff series: Western Conference Semifinals

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 4–2 in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals (Land of Basketball stats database). The series ran from May 1 to May 13, 2022.

Here’s a game-by-game breakdown.

Four key moments defined this series and turned it into a bitter rivalry.

1. Dillon Brooks’ flagrant foul on Gary Payton II (Game 2). Brooks was ejected and subsequently suspended for a flagrant-2 foul that broke Payton’s elbow (ESPN sports journalism). Draymond Green called it “a dirty play,” and the incident became a rallying cry for the Warriors.

“That was a dirty play.”

— Draymond Green, via ESPN sports journalism

2. Ja Morant’s knee injury (Game 3). Morant left Game 3 with a sore knee and missed the remainder of the series. Without their star point guard, the Grizzlies struggled to generate offense against the Warriors’ switching defense.

3. Memphis’s 134-95 blowout in Game 5. Facing elimination, the Grizzlies led by as many as 39 points, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane combining for 52 points. It was the largest margin of victory in a Grizzlies playoff game.

4. Warriors close out in Game 6 at Chase Center. Stephen Curry scored 32 points and Klay Thompson added 22 as Golden State advanced to the conference finals, where they would go on to win the 2022 NBA championship.

The trade-off: the series proved that a healthy Warriors team could beat a healthy Grizzlies team, even if only barely. But the “if only Ja had played” question lingers, making this a rivalry defined by what-ifs as much as actual results.

Key moments: Dillon Brooks’ flagrant foul, Ja Morant’s injury, Warriors advance

Draymond Green’s post-game comments about Brooks’ foul — “That was a dirty play” — captured the Warriors’ frustration. Brooks was not ejected for the initial contact but was suspended after the league reviewed the play. The suspension meant Brooks missed Game 3, which the Warriors won comfortably.

Morant’s injury in Game 3 shifted the series decisively. Before leaving, Morant had 34 points and 7 assists. Without him, the Grizzlies averaged just 96 points per game over the final three contests.

“We’ll be back. This rivalry is just getting started.”

— Ja Morant, after the 2022 series loss, via ESPN sports journalism

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Frequently asked questions

For the Grizzlies, the rivalry with Golden State is a test of whether a young core can dethrone a dynasty. The data says the Warriors still hold the edge — 61 wins to 52, two playoff series sweeps, and a 73-point statement game. But the trajectory says something different: Memphis is getting closer. The gap between a 73-point loss and a 39-point playoff win is only a few months, and the gap between being eliminated and advancing is one healthy Ja Morant. For Warriors fans, the warning is clear: this rivalry has gotten bitterer, louder, and closer with every meeting. The next chapter is coming, and it might not favor the dynasty.