The return of D’Angelo Russell to the Golden State Warriors’ rotation came when the team needed him most. The Dubs were riding a seven-game losing streak and desperately needed the scoring of the former All-Star. However, the 23-year-old’s 34-point night against the Memphis Grizzlies wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.
The Grizzlies handed the Warriors a 122-102 loss in Memphis, dropping Golden State’s losing streak to a season-high eight games.
The Golden State Warriors battled the thriving Grizzlies for 36-minutes, but the 12-minute third quarter was where this game was decided. At halftime, the Warriors only trailed the Grizzlies by one point, but a 35-17 third quarter from Memphis put this game out of reach for the understaffed Dubs.
Grizzlies center, Jonas Valanciunas, scored 15 of his 31 points in the third quarter alone. Valanciunas added 19 rebounds and two blocks, nine of Lithuanian’s boards came off the offensive glass.
Things won’t get any easier for Golden State on their losing streak with games against the Western Conference playoff-hopeful Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets next up on the schedule.
The return of D-Loading
Russell returned to the Warriors’ lineup in Memphis after missing the previous six games with a shoulder injury. In his first game action of the 2020 new year, he did not disappoint.
After only scoring one point in the first quarter, the Ohio State product ended his night with 34 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Russell shot 12-of-24 from the field, including five makes from beyond the arc.
Back-to-back threes for D-Lo 💦 pic.twitter.com/Hui2Hu2bKW
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 12, 2020
Omari Spellman stays hot
Omari Spellman started his second straight game for the Golden State Warriors and continued his impressive play. After scoring 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies, Spellman’s now registered six consecutive scoring nights of 10 or more points. Over those six games, Spellman has shot 15-of-24 from 3-point range, good enough for 62.5 % from beyond the arc.
Omari with the volleyball spike 🖐 pic.twitter.com/qd92lhoRMT
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 13, 2020