Memphis Grizzlies ready to go the distance against Golden State Warriors after 39-point win propels them to Game 6

MEMPHIS — Moments after the Grizzlies destroyed the Golden State Warriors to keep their season alive, Ja Morant started a chant that gained some steam among his teammates.

The injured Morant repeatedly chanted, «Grizz in seven,» after Memphis routed Golden State 134-95 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to send the Western Conference semifinal series back to San Francisco with the Warriors' lead cut to 3-2.

As a few of his teammates cheered him on, Morant made sure everyone heard his message. While Brandon Clarke was doing a postgame interview on the court, Morant grabbed the microphone and shouted it again: «Grizz in seven!»

Even without their star point guard, who missed his second straight game with a bone bruise in his right knee, the Grizzlies dominated the Warriors. They led by as much as 55 points, and their 39-point win tied for the third-largest victory when facing elimination in NBA postseason history, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

The Grizzlies believe they have new life and hope that they can prevail again to force a Game 7 in Memphis.

«I would say we are energized,» forward Dillon Brooks said. «We're locked in and we're all eyes on Game 6. Try to keep surviving.»

The Grizzlies blew open a one-point game, turning it into a 77-50 halftime lead in a matter of 13 minutes. Memphis scored 25 points off 14 Golden State turnovers and had 36 points in the paint in the first half alone.

«It was awful,» said Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who suffered through the second-largest loss in a game in which he, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green all played together.

«It was embarrassing. From the opening tip, they had great flow and they were more aggressive than us.… We all had the mindset that we were going to