OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors moved within one win of their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 1976, overcoming a slow start to rout the Memphis Grizzlies 98-78 Wednesday night for a 3-2 lead in their conference semifinal series.
The Warriors can wrap up the best-of-seven and move on to face either the Los Angeles Clippers or Houston Rockets with a win in Game 6 on Friday night in Memphis.
If a seventh game is necessary, it would be played Sunday in Oakland.
NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry scored 18 points, all on 3-point shots, and the Warriors dominated the Grizzlies from beyond the arc en route to their third double-digit victory of the series.
Behind a quick 17 points from big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter. However, after making eight of their first 13 shots, Randolph and Gasol combined to go just 6-for-21 the rest of the way, and Memphis shot just 35.4 percent over the final 39 minutes of the game after hitting 10 of its first 16 shots.
The Grizzlies, who stunned the top-seeded Warriors 97-90 in Oakland in Game 2, were playing without defensive whiz Tony Allen, who is nursing a strained left hamstring.
Memphis led 23-10 in the ninth minute of the game, but the Warriors dominated the final 39 minutes, starting with the final three of the first period.
Curry bombed in three of his six 3-pointers in the final 2:48 of the period, igniting a 16-2 flurry that allowed Golden State not only to erase the entire early deficit but go up 26-25 at period’s end.
The Warriors never trailed again, leading as many as 12 in the second period, 17 in the third and 24 in the fourth.
Not hounded by Allen for the first time in the series, Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson poured in a game-high 21. He added three 3-pointers in four attempts to Golden State’s barrage from beyond the arc.
Backup swingman Andre Iguodala had a pair of 3-pointers and 16 points in all, and small forward Harrison Barnes added three threes and 14 points.
The Warriors made 14 of their 30 3-point tries in all, outscoring the Grizzlies 42-12 from beyond the arc.
Center Andrew Bogut corralled a team-high nine rebounds, helping Golden State overcome its height disadvantage up front to outrebound the Grizzlies 44-43.
The Golden State bench, led by Iguodala, contributed big-time to the win, outscoring its counterparts 32-17. Power forward David Lee, pressed into bigger minutes because of an injury to backup center Marreese Speights, provided six points and seven rebounds to the win.
Gasol had 18 points and Randolph 13 for Memphis, which has never lost a Western Conference semifinal series. Gasol shot 8-for-22 and Randolph 6-for-12.
Each recorded a double-double, Gasol finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds and Randolph with 10.
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley added 13 points, and small forward Jeff Green, starting in Allen’s place, had 10.
NOTES: Even before SG Tony Allen (strained left hamstring) was ruled out of Game 5, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger spoke of the benefits of being conservative with his defensive ace. “He’s the kind of guy who will do anything he can to get out there,” Joerger said. “But at the same time, you want to be smart and say if you are going to be closer to 100 percent for Game 6 and be more effective, then we will wait.” … The Warriors officially ruled C Marreese Speights (strained right calf) out for the series, although coach Steve Kerr said before the game that his backup big man is “improving” and is a possibility for the next round should the Warriors advance. … History indicated Game 5 would not go well for the Warriors. They lost their previous eight consecutive Game 5s dating back to 1987. … Meanwhile, the Grizzlies saw their five-game winning streak in Game 5s end.