Warriors prove they can win at less than full strength with well-rounded effort vs. Grizzlies

SAN FRANCISCO The reality of the Warriors roster means that on nights one or more of their veteran stars gets a breather their ability to win at less than full strength will play an imperative role in determining their position when the postseason comes around Golden State has looked mighty good when everyone is available and on Monday night the Warriors - notched their first win while missing a key piece Moses Moody heated up after halftime to tally points off the bench while Jonathan Kuminga led four Golden State starters to finish in double figures as the Warriors dispatched of the Memphis Grizzlies - All the while Al Horford watched from the bench in a beige sweatsuit The supporting cast delivered a better effort than on Friday in Portland the Warriors first match without the -year-old Horford which ended in a - loss despite getting points from Steph Curry The Warriors required only points from Curry against the Grizzlies - his lowest scoring output of the young season Kuminga continued to fill the stat sheet with a -point -rebound double-double Brandin Podziemski poured in points and six assists both season highs and Jimmy Butler contributed points five rebounds and five assists Draymond Green the lone starter who didn t outcome in double figures led the squad with assists After going big against the Blazers with Quinten Post as their fifth starter in place of Horford Kerr opted to reinsert Podziemski into the starting lineup and was hurriedly rewarded Podziemski sank an open -pointer on the Warriors first possession assisted to Curry in transition and eventually finishing with double the amount of dimes that he had totaled his first three games three The Warriors assisted on of their baskets including six from Draymond Green by the -minute mark of the first period as Golden State built a - advantage The Grizzlies however mounted a - run against the Warriors reserves and ended the opening quarter leading - The Warriors points which they also equaled in the third quarter were the majority of they have scored in a quarter this season but the they allowed trailed only their worst defensive periods against Denver and Portland The group buckled down to hold the Grizzlies to -of- from the field in the second quarter to go into halftime up - and limited Memphis to under shooting from the end of the first onward The starting unit again built a -point lead during their shift early following halftime This time when Kerr went to his bench the reserves didn t let the lead evaporate they built on it led by Moody The fifth-year shooting guard who missed the first two games of the season with a calf strain was a team-worst minus- at halftime but proceeded to make that up and more after intermission Related Articles How Warriors Steve Kerr determine which games to sit Al Horford which to play Santa Cruz Warriors land three guards in NBA G-League Draft Warriors week in review Steph Curry in MVP form to start season Surreal night Warriors fall to Blazers squad rocked by NBA gambling embarrassment Warriors instant analysis Steph Curry s second straight heater not enough to lift Golden State past Blazers Moody entered the match with the Warriors leading by seven and connected on consecutive -pointers to push their advantage to - He swiped the ball from Memphis big man Santi Aldama passed to Curry and called for the ball back on the perimeter Jaren Jackson Jr fouled him attempting to contest the shot and Moody sank all three free throws to push the Warriors lead back to The sequence ignited the arena to its loudest point of the night aided by none other than Curry and Green Curry flexed and summoned the on hand to rise to their feet as Moody headed to the line A possession earlier Green began to incite the crowd after his hard foul on Aldama was upgraded to a Flagrant Aldama missed both free throws he was awarded and Green celebrated by skipping around the paint as if he was riding a toy horse Up next The Warriors will be back at full strength for the second half of their second back-to-back of the season as Horford is expected to return for their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers Tipoff at Chase Center is set for p m in the first of a new era of selected later starts