This is a continuation of the halftime recap of the Golden State Warriors at the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors took a 75-57 lead into halftime.
3rd Quarter – Curry Show Continues, Although Barnes Goes Down
Tyson Chandler had strained his left hamstring and Jon Leuer got the start after halftime at center for the Suns.
But Harrison Barnes also went down for the Warriors in the middle of a 9-0 run by Phoenix, as he sprained his left foot while landing on the foot of Markieff Morris after Morris attempted a turnaround baseline shot from the left block. Barnes had to be helped to the locker room and would not return.
Andre Iguodala came in for Barnes.
After Curry’s sixth turnover, Andrew Bogut steadied the Warriors boat for a bit as he blocked a drive by Morris, then on the other end fed Iguodala for a slam dunk wide open on the cut on the left side.
Bogut then blocked Leuer at the rim, Leuer ended the possession with a missed three from the top, and Barbosa got a layup assisted by Draymond Green.
Later, Curry made a similar cut down the lane fed by Iguodala and got an and-one on Leuer.
Like in the first half, Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek burned another timeout after a frenetic Warriors sequence that, once again, ended in three points for Golden State.
This time, Curry missed a layup in transition from the left baseline as Morris bit on a pass down the court to Steph, but Iguodala managed to corral the offensive rebound while Curry snuck to the opposite three-point line. By the time the Suns realized what was happening, it was too late and Steph drilled another triple in front of the Phoenix bench.
Leandro Barbosa drained a three, upping Golden State’s downtown percentage to a blistering 17-for-26, then Ezeli blocked Morris and Iguodala went coast-to-coast for this dunk:
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Then, late in the shotclock, Barbosa passed the ball to Curry in the corner, who shot the ball quickly as the buzzer sounded, almost like a volleyball set. The shot missed, but Ezeli got the rebound and found Curry again for three.
That gave Curry 39 points on the night and the Warriors had a 98-77 lead with 2:24 to go.
Steph added two more from the free throw line and Golden State took a 103-81 lead into the final frame.
4th Quarter – Warriors Set Franchise Record For Threes
As part of the mop-up crew, Barbosa scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including two treys, allowing Curry and Bogut to rest the entire period.
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Green checked out with over nine minutes to go, but Warriors interim head coach sent him back in as he was one rebound away from a triple-double. Green checked in for Klay Thompson, who finished with 15 points on 6-for-11 field.
With 2:55 remaining, Green scored a tip-in of a missed layup by Ian Clark, to finish with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Barbosa’s last three put the Warriors up by 25, 126-101.
After Green’s triple-double, Brandon Rush hit the Warriors’ 22nd triple of the night, setting a franchise record.
Jason Thompson got the nod ahead of Marreese Speights to close out the game with Clark, Barbosa, Rush and Ezeli.
Golden State (17-0) heads back to the Bay Area to face the Sacramento Kings, who will also be on the back end of a back-to-back, tomorrow night.
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @lindsaykskinner)
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