Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors with 23 points to end the Phoenix Suns’ franchise-record 18-game wining streak, and regain the lead in the Western Conference (19–3) on Friday night with a 118–96 victory in San Francisco.
This was basically a home-and-away series as the Suns just defeated the Warriors Tuesday at home 104–96; Phoenix also played Thursday night defeating Detroit for the record-setting 18-game win streak.
“We were fortunate to get them on a back-to-back,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “We have huge respect for Phoenix and what they’ve accomplished, and what kind of team they’ve become over the last couple years. We haven’t been in the playoffs for two years.”
The former champion Warriors have been disappointing as their other top star, Klay Thompson, has been out two seasons with injuries. Thompson, half of the “Splash Brothers” alongside Curry, has been practicing and is expected to finally return by month’s end.
The difference between the two games was Curry, who was 8–20 from the field last night, mostly from 6–11 three-pointers; compared to his performance in their first meeting Tuesday shooting a dismal 4–21, scoring just 12 points.
The other major factor is that the Suns’ top scorer, Devin Booker, was out for the last two games after suffering a left hamstring injury in the second quarter of Tuesday’s win. Booker is likely out for several more games.
The victory gave the Warriors 11 straight wins at home, which have all come by double digits.
It is also the eighth win out of the last nine games giving the Warriors an NBA-best 19–3 record, with the Suns a half game behind at 19–4.
The Warriors led most of the way, but saw their largest first half lead of 13 at 11:12 in second quarter diminish to 51–48 at halftime.
The lead would stretch to 77–64 with Juan Toscano Anderson’s tip-in at 2:12 in the third. The Suns would again fight back to get within nine, 83–74, after JaVale McGee scoring twice on a lay-up and dunk (10:26) early in the fourth quarter.
Toscano-Anderson made one of two free throws after a flagrant foul at 10:05 in the 4th to go up 84–74; he finished with 17 points off the bench from 7–8 shooting, five rebounds, and five assists.
Gary Payton II followed up for two baskets, including a three, to widen the lead to 15 (89–74) with 9:35. Payton also came off the bench to add 19 points from 7–9 shooting with 3–5 threes, and five rebounds.
Warriors’ other big contributor was starter Andrew Wiggins who scored 19 on 8–16 shooting, 3–7 threes, five rebounds, and two assists. Jordan Poole also added 14 points for Golden State.
The Suns would only cut the lead to 12, 89–77, after Mikal Bridges three-pointer at 8:27; Bridges scored 7 points on 2–4 from the field.
Suns’ top scorer was center Deandre Ayton with 23 points, he also had six boards and two assists. Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson both scored 12; while Jae Crowder added 11.
Paul, league assist leader, added to his season total with eight as their 11th-longest win streak in NBA history record came to a close.
The Warriors will host the Spurs on Saturday and the Suns await the Spurs on Monday.
