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OAKLAND – In a time of sluggishness and inefficiency, the Warriors jumpstarted their engine by returning to a remedy that often camouflaged last season’s inconsistency.
The Warriors finished with a 117-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies because of a third-quarter blitz. After struggling against the Grizzlies’ grinding and slow-tempo style, the Warriors quickly went into overdrive. The Warriors turned a 58-58 halftime tie into a 92-73 cushion entering the fourth quarter en route to an eighth consecutive win and a tie for a league-best 10-1 record.
The Warriors scored 14 unanswered points over two minutes late in the third quarter. The run began with Alfonzo McKinnie’s pull-up jumper and ended with McKinnie’s 23-footer. In between, Stephen Curry sank a 27-foot 3-pointer, Kevin Durant made two jump shots and Kevon Looney converted on a layup. Meanwhile, Memphis (5-3) finished with a season-low 15 points in the quarter on 5-of-19 shooting from the field.
The Warriors anticipated playing a grind-it-out game against a Grizzlies team that entered Monday ranked 27th in total offense (104.3 points per game) and relatively efficient in field-goal percentage (44.8 percent) and from the perimeter (ninth at a 37.7 percent clip). Meanwhile, Memphis ranks No. 2 in points allowed (100.3) and 16th in defensive field-goal percentage (46.3).
“We just had to stay the course. This whole team uses up the whole possession to find their best shot,” Durant said. “You have to respect it. We’re so used to getting the team shooting the ball with 15, 16 seconds left on the shot clock and we’re getting down and running. But they’re a smart basketball team. We know they can’t run with us so we’re going to slow the game down. We did a great job of matching their physicality, but also switching up our style of play.” 
All of which helped the Warriors absorb some issues. The most notable: Green missed the entire second half with a right foot contusion. Afterward, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that his X-rays came back negative. Durant believed that Green feels “all right” after noting he did not sit out right away. Still Durant admitted he had not talked to Green afterward, and Kerr expressed uncertainty about Green’s availability for Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It didn’t make sense for him to go out there and play in the second half,” Kerr said. “He sort of tested it out. We decided to shut him down. We’ll see what happens.”
The Warriors also experienced some other challenges. Curry had 19 points, while shooting a rarely inefficient 6-of-17 from the field. The Warriors frontcourt in Damian Jones (five) and Jordan Bell (four) became hobbled with foul trouble.
The Warriors compensated elsewhere. Klay Thompson had a team-leading 27 points while shooting 11 of 21 from the field and 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Durant added 22 points on a 7-of-11 clip and an 8-of-8 mark from the free-throw line. And the Warriors dominated in the third period.
“KD got through his spots and was doing everything out there,” Thompson said. “When he’s getting that mid range, he’s literally impossible to stop.” 
It also became impossible to stop Durant and Thompson after assuming larger playmaking roles. With Green’s second-half absence, the Warriors relied on a drive-and-kick game to speed up the tempo. That became more effective than in the first half when the Warriors committed seven turnovers.
“I just tried to provide that same punch for us and facilitate the ball and also be aggressive to score, too,” Durant said. “I just tried to find the right play and make the right play.”
Those right plays also happened on defense. The Warriors held the Grizzlies to a 5-of-19 clip from the field and 1-of-5 mark from 3-point range. Memphis center Marc Gasol had zero shot attempts in the second half after only having two in the first half. The Warriors then ended the third period with Durant and Curry stopping Wayne Seldon at the rim.
After stuffing Seldon, Curry walked toward his teammates that had just cleared the bench. It was as if Curry took over for Green’s absence. Or as Durant joked, “We’ll have to start calling him a rim protector now.”
“That was impressive. I was hoping for the Mutombo finger wag,” Kerr joked. “I didn’t quite get it.” 
As McKinnie strolled into the press conference room, a reporter jokingly lamented his arrival and wondered if he has become bored.
“I can become used to this,” McKinnie said grinning.
For two consecutive games, McKinnie has commanded the podium for obvious reasons. He offered another promising performance for a player who joined the Warriors as a training camp invitee (14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 2-of-3 from 3-point range in 19 minutes off the bench). He provided a pivotal part of the Warriors’ third-quarter run. He played the entire fourth quarter.
That has left the Warriors wondering if he is just getting started.
“Don’t wake him up,” Kerr joked. “What I love about him is he’s naturally very confident. He’s not afraid of anything. He gets out there and rises up. He’s open, he’s going to rise up and maybe that’s what his journey led to.”
That journey has become well documented in the past two weeks.
McKinnie went undrafted after playing at Eastern Illinois (2010-12) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (2013-15). He played internationally in Luxembourg and Mexico. He paid $175 for a 3-on-3 tryout with the Chicago Bulls’ G-League team, which then led to stints with Windy City (2016-17) and the Raptors 905 (2017-18). With Patrick McCaw’s free agency at a standstill, the Warriors turned McKinnie’s training-camp contract into a regular-season deal that becomes guaranteed on Jan. 10.
“He was an NBA player. But it’s all about getting your opportunity,” said Warriors guard Quinn Cook, who played in the G-League last season. “There’s so many talented guys who are in the league who just haven’t gotten their perfect opportunity. He’s taking full advantage of it. It says a lot about him.”
It also says a lot about McKinnie on how he has dealt with the attention.
He noted that his “phone’s been blowing up” and that his Twitter account has gained followers. McKinnie added, “I’m just happy I’m in this situation.” But the Warriors have not sensed the extra attention changing him.
“Zo is not reading too much into that because it’s not really real,” Durant said. “He tries to come out there and play extremely hard and is shooting the ball with confidence at the moment and playing defense. So he’s going to step outside of himself. I think we’re all excited for him. But we want more for him. He wants more for himself. It’s 11 games in. We look forward to seeing him do this the rest of the year.”
Will that be sustainable? Defenses are likely to key in on McKinnie. Maybe the heavy minutes eventually catch up to him. But his stock has kept rising. He has defended consistently because of his constant hustle. He has shot consistently because of his strong confidence.
“It’s unbelievable. I don’t what to jinx the man. But he makes his first shot every time he comes in the game,” Thompson said. “He’s so efficient and fills up such a great role for us with his defensive versatility and ability to rebound and ability to knock down jumpers. He took a crazy path and he deserves everything he’s doing. He works really hard.” 
The moment could have caused Cook to complain publicly or sulk privately. After sitting on the bench during the Warriors’ wins last week against New Orleans and Minnesota, Cook channeled his frustration elsewhere. He completed a postgame shooting workout.
“For any basketball player, if their rhythm is off, they’ll try to do anything to get their rhythm back,” Cook said. “It’s something I’ve always done.”
Hence, Cook immediately felt comfortable returning to the lineup. He scored 13 points while shooting 4 of 5 from 3-point range along with seven rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench.
“He’s a true pro. He’s been working that hard since he was a kid,” said Durant, who grew up with Cook in the Washington, D.C., area. “I don’t think just because you get to the NBA. He puts in that work every single day.”
That work started at DeMatha High (of Hyattsville, Marylan) and Oak Hill Prep. It then continued at Duke University. During all of those stops, Cook said he often completed postgame shooting workouts after games he either shot the ball poorly or played limited minutes.
“You have to stay ready and always have to put the work in and stay in shape,” Cook said. “Just stay in tune with what’s going on. You never know when your opportunity will come.”
Curry did not say much about the game at the postgame podium. When it came to the mid-term elections on Tuesday? Different story. Curry wore a black T-shirt with the words, “The Young People will win.” That phrase stemmed from the “March for Our Lives” group, founded by survivors of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“Obviously understanding what tomorrow means in terms of how important it is to vote and specifically around candidates and people running for office that are protecting gun control and things like that,” Curry explained. “Trying to continue to raise awareness any way that I can. The saying speaks for itself as far as what tomorrow means all across our country.”
The Warriors have become outspoken leading up to Tuesday’s mid-term elections. They partnered with “Rock The Vote,” which resulted in registering seven players, two assistant coaches and a dozen staff members. In the past year, the Warriors have remained critical of President Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric. And Kerr has spoken out on every mass shooting.
“It was different how I was as a player,” Kerr said regarding his NBA career (1988-2003). “It wasn’t something that was talked about that much in professional sports. Some of that had to do with the fact we lived in a more stable time. We all had more faith in our government, what was happening and our institutions. When you’re more comfortable you’re less likely to be outspoken. Everybody is more uncomfortable now.”
And mostly everybody has a Twitter account.
“We live in an era of social media and everyone has a platform and every one has a voice. If you’re one of those guys in our locker room, we have a platform,” Kerr said. “They recognize they have the power to create some good and positive change. I’m really proud of them to urge people to vote. I’m trying to do the same thing. Hopefully it helps.” 
The man did not play one postseason game for the Warriors. He also became hobbled with injuries. But the Warriors still honored Memphis forward Omri Casspi with a tribute video and a championship ring before Monday’s game.
“I’m really excited about it and really thankful,” said Casspi, who also was sidelined with right knee soreness. “It’s a class act by the Warriors. We all know how grateful I am for that.”
The Warriors waived Casspi before the NBA playoffs started for two reasons. He had missed the previous 10 games with a right ankle injury that showed no signs of healing. With Curry sidelined with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, the Warriors became encouraged with Cook’s emergence at point guard.
Though Casspi appeared tentative with taking 3-point shots, he still averaged 5.7 points on 58 percent shooting in 14 minutes. He also impressed the Warriors with his selfless play and effective cutting.
“I’m glad he’ll be able to be recognized,” Kerr said. “The circumstances last year were really tough. It’s part of the NBA.”
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Warriors veteran Shaun Livingston missed a fourth consecutive game because of a sore right knee that Kerr believes Livingston will heal by the end of the week. Meanwhile, veteran Andre Iguodala sat for what the team considered rest purposes after nursing a recent injury.
Iguodala’s absence extended his recovery period since the Warriors last played Friday against Minnesota. The Warriors do not play until Thursday against Milwaukee.
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