'Awful ... embarrassing': Warriors fall behind by as many as 55 in huge loss to Grizzlies

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 0951 GMT (1751 HKT) May 12, 2022

Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game 5.

(CNN)The Golden State Warriors emphatically missed the opportunity to clinch their Western Conference semifinals playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

In a dominant performance in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series, the Grizzlies won 134-95 — leading by as many as 55 points — at the FedExForum. Memphis never struggled in outscoring the normally potent Warriors offense, even without star point guard Ja Morant, who is doubtful for the remainder of the postseason with a bone bruise in his right knee suffered in Game 3. Memphis scored 77 points in the first half, the most in franchise postseason history. The Grizzlies' 52-point lead after three quarters equaled the record for the largest in a playoff game in the past 70 years.Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones each scored 21 points, keeping Golden State at arm's length and forcing a Game 6 in San Francisco with the Warriors leading the overall series at 3-2. Read MoreAfterwards, Jackson Jr. said Memphis' high tempo was what helped them stay in front. Grizzlies guard De'Anthony Melton shoots the ball over Warriors guard Andrew Wiggins.«We were just playing fast. You know how we like playing fast,» he told the media. «We wanted to bring that energy early. We just kept our foot on the gas, and everybody contributed. Even 12 (Morant) over there, with his ice on.»For the Warriors, it was a disappointing evening with the opportunity to advance to the Western Conference finals on the line. Three-time NBA champion Klay Thompson called it «awful» and «embarrassing.»«From the