The Golden State Warriors have secured a comfortable 98-78 win over the Memphis Grizzlies to regain the lead in their Western Conference semi-final series.
The visitors made a stronger start at the Oracle Arena, with Zach Randolph and Mike Conley helping the Grizzlies surge to an 11-point lead less than 10 minutes into the tie, but Stephen Curry edged the hosts in front before the end of the opening period.
The recently-crowned league MVP continued to find the basket in the second quarter, while Klay Thompson and Draymond Green also helped the conference's top seeds increase their lead before half time.
Green and Thompson kept piling on the pressure in the third quarter, while Memphis's shooting tailed off, with Conley adding just six points in the final six minutes of the period.
The Grizzlies closed the gap to 15 in the first couple of minutes of the final quarter, but Thompson and David Lee made sure there was no chance of the visitors completing a comeback.
The Warriors will have a chance to clinch the series when the sides meet again on Friday.
Sian Cowper
