Warriors Overcome Absences of Curry, Green to Defeat Grizzlies

Steve Kerr praises team's energy and ball movement in 133-112 win

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:03pm

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The Golden State Warriors overcame the absences of star players Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and others to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 133-112 on Wednesday. With their usual stars sidelined, the Warriors' reserves and younger players stepped up, led by a career-high 21 points from rookie guard Will Richard. Head coach Steve Kerr praised his team's energy, enthusiasm, and quick ball movement in the victory.

Why it matters

The Warriors' ability to win without their top players demonstrates the team's depth and resilience, which will be crucial as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference. The performance of the team's younger and less experienced players also provides optimism for the franchise's future.

The details

The Warriors were missing several key players, including Curry, Green, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Seth Curry, due to various injuries and illnesses. Despite the absences, the Warriors' reserves stepped up, with Will Richard, Brandin Podziemski, and Gary Payton II each scoring 19 or more points. The team's quick ball movement and sustained energy overwhelmed the also short-handed Grizzlies, who were missing Ja Morant, Cedric Coward, and Santi Aldama.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who praised his team's performance in the win.

Steph Curry

The Warriors' star point guard, who has been sidelined since January 30 with a persistent knee injury.

Draymond Green

The Warriors' veteran forward, who is dealing with persistent back issues.

Ja Morant

The Grizzlies' star guard, who was sidelined with an elbow injury.

Will Richard

A rookie guard for the Warriors who scored a career-high 21 points in the win.

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What they’re saying

“That's the formula for sure. And we've got to continue to plug away. I'm really enjoying coaching these guys. They've been great. Just the energy, the enthusiasm supporting each other.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (macon.com)

What’s next

The Warriors will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their next game is scheduled for this Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The takeaway

The Warriors' ability to overcome the absences of their star players and earn a convincing win demonstrates the team's depth and resilience. The strong performances of the team's younger and less experienced players provide optimism for the franchise's future, even as they navigate the challenges of the current season.