Warriors vs Suns

2023 - 3 - 14

Post cover — Image courtesy of "FOX 10 News Phoenix"

Warriors beat Suns 123-112 for 8th straight home victory (FOX 10 News Phoenix)

Things got heated in the closing minutes when JaMychal Green and ex-Warriors guard Damion Lee received a double technical with 1:12 left.

... The Suns lost for the first time in five road games vs. ... Other than Booker beginning 3 of 5, the rest of the Suns shot 5 for 16 in the cold opening period. ... F Jonathan Kuminga was out a third straight game with a sprained right ankle. Kevin Durant again missed facing his former team with fans present in San Francisco, sitting out a third straight game for the Suns because of a sprained left ankle. JaMychal Green scored seven points in the period. Draymond Green played 30 minutes and delivered a timely two-handed slam early in the fourth after rolling his right ankle during Saturday’s overtime win against the Bucks. ... F Andrew Wiggins missed his 12th straight game dealing with a family matter. "There were a few breakdowns because of their pace but I didn’t think it was a failing grade." Things got heated in the closing minutes when JaMychal Green and ex-Warriors guard Damion Lee received a double technical with 1:12 left. "That was like old-school AAU back in the day where parents get involved," Curry said. Golden State is 29-7 at home but 7-26 on the road. Jordan Poole had 20 points and six assists off the bench for the defending champions.

Warriors' season-best start keys win vs. Suns before five-game road ... (NBC Sports)

The Warriors used their best first quarter of the season to hold off the Suns as they brace a huge five-game road trip.

For how great Thompson was in the first quarter, he nearly was as great in the second. The Warriors were outscored by five points in the second quarter and seven in the fourth before scoring one more point than the Suns in the final 12 minutes. A smooth track was created from locking down defensively and two of the greatest shooters ever putting on a show. The Warriors as a team scored 32 points in the frame. "You need to do it on the road, but even when we have been down big we fought back and found our way back into a game. "In the two early Phoenix losses, he really struggled and showed a lot of frustration, so I know it felt good for him to have that huge first half regardless of who we were playing, but as I said, this is a division rival and a team that has beaten us in three straight. He came out and set the tone." The future Hall of Famer saved his best for last, finishing with a game-high 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting and 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. In the Warriors' wild overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, the defending champions held their first lead after the first quarter in exactly one month. He scored only two points and was ejected in their first matchup. The bench was on its feet with a plethora of celebrations. The previous high was a 20-point lead all the way back on Nov.

Warriors' season-best start keys win vs. Suns before five-game road ... (Yahoo Sports)

The Warriors used their best first quarter of the season to hold off the Suns as they brace a huge five-game road trip.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr praises Klay Thompson's performance vs ... (Warriors Wire)

The Phoenix Suns have been a consistent thorn in the side of the Golden State Warriors this season before Monday night's victory.

There was extra motivation to perform with the nationally televised game, and the Warriors still clawing for a playoff spot in the crowded western conference. Thompson scored 33 of his 38 points in the first two quarters of play in the Warriors’ 123-112 victory over the rival Suns. The Phoenix Suns have been a consistent thorn in the side of the Golden State Warriors this season before Monday night’s victory.

Stephen's Study: Takeaways from Suns vs. Warriors (Bright Side of the Sun)

Slow start, again, plagues the Suns after valiant comeback efforts.

Exclusive to the road, they’re 1-16 in the same scenario. “There were a few breakdowns because of their own but I didn’t think it was a failing grade.” Last time out, the Suns (sans Durant) and Bucks (sans Antetokounmpo) had a mud fight in Milwaukee that saw the Bucks squeak by with a 104-101 win. The Warriors simply wanted it more, early yesterday. There are ebbs and flows over the course of a season, however, the players that they need to knock down the types of looks that their offense generates consistently, are in need of a breakout game, collectively. They were able to generate reaction advantage amidst the Suns switching both on-ball and off it and exploited the slightest hiccups they saw from the defense in a fashion that they’ve made a signature to observe.

Warriors torch Suns behind Klay Thompson's 38 points (Golden State of Mind)

Thompson went on one of his signature unconscious binges, buoyed by scripted plays that got him to his spots.

But Thompson — at this point in the middle of his volcanic eruption — was feeling it. The Warriors run ‘Spain’ pick-and-roll action with Thompson setting the backscreen on the screener’s defender (Bismack Biyombo). The ‘Dribble’ aspect is Curry dribbling past the ballscreen, then finding Thompson on the flare. Thompson’s always been at his best whenever he’s placed into movements sets like the one above, but never has he been at his most effective attacking switches out on the perimeter. Curry feeds the ball to Looney in ‘Delay’ action (a big initiating at the top of the arc in a 5-out configuration). Curry then goes over to set the screen on Booker, after which Thompson runs toward Looney for a dribble handoff (DHO). The fervor and verve he’s shown this season when attacking slower-footed bigs has resulted in many an efficient half-court possession. The screen-navigation troubles were but a symptom of the larger illness; other problems included botched switches, questionable screen-and-roll coverages, and late rotations sprinkled in with overhelping. Thompson chooses the latter with Josh Okogie switching and chasing him around the second screen. With Deandre Ayton in a drop, Thompson gets another easy look. His advantage creation was — at least, according to the eye test — the best it’s ever been. Many considered Thompson to be quite a one-dimensional offensive player.

Klay Thompson, Warriors lean on 3-point shooting, down Suns (Marianas Variety)

(Reuters) — Klay Thompson helped Golden State build a big lead with a 33-point first half, Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole chipped in with 23 and 20 points, ...

Draymond Green aided the cause with four points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks. Ayton and Paul both recorded double-doubles in the loss — Ayton with a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his 27 points, Paul with a game-high 11 assists to complement 11 points. Phoenix will host the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.