December 1st 2024.
The Golden State Warriors are struggling to put together complete games, and it showed in their fourth consecutive loss against the Phoenix Suns. Despite a strong effort, the Warriors couldn't overcome their early defensive mistakes and fell short in the end.
Steph Curry returned to the court after sitting out one game due to a knee injury, scoring 23 points. However, his Suns teammate Devin Booker outshined him with 27 points and nine assists. Phoenix dominated the first half, leading 66-49, and held off the Warriors' comeback attempts with consistent play from their star players.
In the second half, the Warriors came out with more urgency but couldn't maintain their momentum in the fourth quarter. The Suns ultimately came out on top, winning 113-105. Although the Warriors managed to cut the deficit to five points in the final minutes, Phoenix's closers like Kevin Durant and Booker prevented them from completing the comeback.
Earlier in the game, the Suns had a hot shooting streak, making nine out of their first 13 three-point attempts and building a double-digit lead. However, second-year guard Brandin Podziemski helped keep the Warriors in the game with his eight points in the first quarter, including two much-needed three-pointers. He also made an impact on the defensive end, drawing offensive fouls and making stops against Durant.
The Suns' offensive strategy caused problems for the Warriors' defense, with Durant frequently drawing double teams and other players finding open shots from the perimeter. The Warriors' deep rotation, which has been a consistent strategy this season to maximize defensive intensity, didn't work as well in this game.
Head coach Steve Kerr adjusted the rotation in the second half, playing fewer players and opting for a bigger lineup for defensive and rebounding purposes. This change paid off, as the Warriors won the third quarter 29-19.
Curry, who had a slow start in the first half, came alive in the third quarter and scored 15 points. He played with tape on his right knee and a leg sleeve on his left, indicating that he was still recovering from his injury. Despite his efforts, the Warriors couldn't catch up to the Suns and were down by ten points when Curry returned to the game in the fourth quarter.
In the final minutes, the Warriors tried a full-court press to speed up the game, which resulted in a few turnovers by the Suns. Rookie Jonathan Kuminga, who struggled earlier in the game, made a steal and dunk to bring the Warriors within six points. However, they couldn't complete the comeback, and the Suns held on for the win.
Overall, it was a tough loss for the Warriors, who are still trying to figure out their best lineup and rotation. Kerr acknowledged the challenges of constantly changing the rotation and expressed his hope for improvement in the future. Despite the loss, the Warriors put up a fight and showed resilience, which is a positive sign for the team moving forward.
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