Two positives, two negatives from Warriors' 16-point win vs. Grizzlies

OAKLAND -- Even in winning their eighth straight game, the longest such streak in the NBA, the Warriors were reminded of something that could hurt them.

They can beat a solid team with much less than their best effort. They can do it without Draymond Green for a half, and without Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston at all.

This is why it can be hard at times to fight off complacency. There were signs of it in a 117-101 win over the Grizzlies on Monday at Oracle Arena.

Here are two positives and two negatives taken from that game:

POSITIVES

The bench continues to develop

Alfonzo McKinnie played a season-high 29 minutes, totaling 14 points and three assists. He was plus-10. Kevon Looney played 20 minutes, finishing with 9 points and nine rebounds. He was plus-26.

Jonas Jerebko played 20 minutes and contributed 7 points, six rebounds, three assists and a block. Quinn Cook drilled four consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, keeping the Warriors in command.

The bench, as a group, shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field, including 70 percent (7-of-10) from beyond the arc. In an exhibition of effort and desire, Warriors reserves outrebounded their Memphis counterparts 27-8.

With only four of the top seven players available the entire game, the Warriors were forced to rely heavily on their reserves. They could not have asked for more.

The young big men received an education

Taking turns against Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, one of the league’s craftiest players, young Warriors centers Damian Jones, Jordan Bell and Looney may as well have brought pencils and pads to the floor.

Gasol went to work immediately, using ingenuity in an effort to get his opponents in foul trouble. It worked. Jones, Bell and Looney combined to commit 13 fouls in 52 minutes. Some of the fouls were questionable, some silly and others actually smart.

Gasol shot only four free throws, so the nightmare scenario of 10 more was avoided.

The Warriors got 15 points, 13 rebounds and four assists from their trio. Gasol totaled 8 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Nothing better than learning while winning.

NEGATIVES

Green leaves with an untimely injury

There is never a good time for Green to be injured. Yet there he was heading into the locker room midway through the second quarter, with sports medicine director Rick Celebrini close behind.

Green returned for the final 81 seconds of the half but didn’t play at all in the second half. He was diagnosed with a contusion to his right foot. X-rays were negative.

His absence put Jordan Bell into the lineup to open the second half. Whereas Bell is an emerging young player, Green is an All-Star. That illustrates the difference.

The Warriors survived the loss of Green. They’re crossing their fingers, however, in hoping he’ll be available Thursday night, when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks come to Oracle.

Curry might be cooling

Stephen Curry’s shooting in October was so amazing that it was unrealistic to believe it would carry over into November, much less deep into the month. It hasn’t.

Curry shot 54.9 percent from the field in October, including 52.9 percent from beyond the arc. The former is exceedingly difficult for a point guard, the latter simply absurd.

Two games into November, Curry is shooting 41.5 percent overall and 38.9 percent from deep. Moreover, he has committed nine turnovers in the last two games, 14 in the last three. He averaged 2.5 turnovers over his first eight games, 4.6 over the last three.

It’s early in the season. It’s only two games into November. But the law of averages seems to be coming after the two-time MVP.