SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors are nonetheless trying to find their first successful streak because the center of November.
With an opportunity for a 3rd straight victory to construct momentum heading into the commerce deadline, Steph Curry put up a dud and the Suns shot the Warriors out of their very own constructing.
Curry scored simply six factors within the first three quarters because the Suns ran up a 20-point lead. A miniature fourth-quarter flurry gave him 14 factors general, however by then the Suns had been cruising to a 130-105 victory.
The Warriors entered January at .500 and went 8-8 within the month.
“Not playing well enough, for a lot of different reasons,” Curry stated postgame. “It’s very indicative of our year. Emotional rollercoaster. Up, down, momentum, get slapped in the face. Back and forth. Frustrating. But it could be better, could be worse.”
Past Curry’s quiet night time, Friday’s recreation was determined within the paint. Phoenix acquired no matter it wished within the lane, whereas the Warriors’ season-long struggles at ending endured. The Suns outscored the Warriors within the paint 56 to 36 and shot 16-for-17 on the rim in comparison with Golden State’s 9-for-22 on the cup.
The Suns shot 48.7% from deep, making the Warriors (24-24) protection look foolish. Devin Booker dropped a game-high 31 factors and former Warriors Kevin Durant offered 19. The Warriors allowed no less than 30 factors in each quarter.
“We were hoping to follow up the effort from the other night, but it wasn’t there for us,” head coach Steve Kerr stated postgame.
Quinten Submit was more practical in his second profession begin than he was in opposition to the Thunder. Making sensible, fast reads out of the quick roll, Submit racked up two early assists and practically had two extra. He additionally hit a pair of above-the-break 3s, stretching Phoenix’s protection within the two-man recreation with Curry.
But Submit doesn’t present any rim safety, and the Suns fortunately went at him. They performed him off the courtroom, ending his night time at 13 minutes earlier than rubbish time.
Curry didn’t hunt photographs early, as a substitute getting his teammates concerned. He didn’t even take a shot till 5:14 left within the opening interval and completed 5-for-14.
“We weren’t finding ways to get him the ball,” Kerr stated. “I’ve got to do a better job of that.”
With Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Inexperienced nonetheless sidelined, the Warriors’ rotation has settled at about 10, with Kyle Anderson getting spot minutes because the eleventh man in sure matchups. Trayce Jackson-Davis is on the skin wanting in, ceding to Submit and Kevon Looney.
The Warriors performed 10 in a primary quarter during which the lead modified eight instances.
Then the Suns took management.
With rim safety defensively and by concentrating on Submit in pick-and-rolls, Phoenix acquired stops and ran in transition. Kerr known as two timeouts lower than a minute aside to attempt to halt their momentum. However a 14-2 Phoenix run with Kevin Durant on the bench put the Suns up 13 early within the second.
Whilst Buddy Hield sank his third 3-pointer and Anderson offered good minutes off the bench, the Warriors couldn’t get stops. Phoenix assisted on 20 of its first 24 buckets, sharing the ball and producing driving lanes. The Warriors began to droop their shoulders, Kerr stated.
The Suns shot 54% from the sector within the second, heading into halftime with a 62-51 lead. Steph Curry scored simply two factors within the first half, going 1-for-5. His solely bucket got here 5 minutes into the second body.
Curry took three straight photographs to open the second half, changing on a pair of stepback midrange jumpers, however Phoenix expanded its result in 18.
It was by no means shut from there. Even when the Warriors clawed again inside 10, the deficit felt like a canyon. The Warriors slowed Durant however the Suns nonetheless rolled, stretching their lead as much as 22.
Golden State tried a zone protection, however Phoenix ate it alive with ball motion. Three straight 3s from Durant gave the Suns 98 factors heading into the fourth quarter. They shot 50% from deep via three quarters.
The Warriors entered 1-20 when trailing after three quarters, and so they weren’t going to erase a 19-point gap to buck that development.
Curry hit his first 3 of the night time a minute into the ultimate body, shaking his hand because the ball ripped pylon. He knew it was far too little and far too late.
Initially Revealed: January 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM PST
