ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — Two nights after traveling to Denver and defeating the Nuggets in a blow out, the Golden State Warriors (7-2) were back at #Roaracle to face the Phoenix Suns (3-7).
The Warriors were without Damian Jones (pectoral surgery). With a maximum of 13 players available for the game, head coach Steve Kerr had James McAdoo placed on the inactive list.
The Suns were without Tyson Chandler (personal reasons).
Q1 – Sloppy Play
Kevin Durant got the Warriors off to a good start with a backdoor dunk fed by Zaza Pachulia, then Durant hit a jumper, and Stephen Curry added a reverse layup past Alex Len for an “and-one” layup:
Crafty finish by @StephenCurry30 on @CSNAuthentic. pic.twitter.com/uAT6bsfjPv
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) November 14, 2016
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After the first timeout, #Roaracle welcomed back Leandro Barbosa:
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But after a missed corner three from Curry and a turnover, Eric Bledsoe scored a layup in transition and T.J. Warren got a slam dunk.
“KD” then missed a jump and Devin Booker went to the line, fouled by Klay Thompson.
Kerr brought in JaVale McGee and Thompson answered with a tough fade-away, the Suns maintaining an 18-14 lead.
Things then fell apart as Klay missed a three after a Draymond Green steal, Jared Dudley got a reverse layup, McGee goaltended, Steph made a silly behind-the-back pass turnover, and Warren hit a jumper, all sandwiched around a Green layup and-one.
Approaching two minutes remaining, the Suns held a 28-21 lead.
The Warriors got back to within 30-28 after two penalty free throws by Green and Shaun Livingston hit a signature baseline “J”, but Durant fouled Bledsoe at the buzzer and two free throws with time expired gave the Suns a 32-28 first quarter lead.
Q2 – Enter The Chef
The start of the second stanza had both teams answering each other, with ex-Warrior Barbosa getting a familiar run-out layup on a missed fade-away by Durant, only to be met with a catch-and-shoot three from Andre Iguodala on the right wing.
Golden State even momentarily pulled ahead as Brandon Knight and Barbosa missed, resulting in a Thompson runner off a curl and a KD coast-to-coast righty scoop, snatching a 35-34 lead with 10:17 to play.
But Knight came back with an immediate two buckets, the second on a run-out layup off a bad pass to a cutting Livingston from David West.
After Klay used his off-arm too much for a charge, Dudley ended up with a triple assisted by Bledsoe.
Thompson got a backdoor cut fed by West…
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…but Dragon Bender hit back with a three from the right side on a catch from Tucker, and Phoenix went back up, 44-37, with 8:30 to go.
Kerr brought Curry back in, but the Suns held serve as Klay got caught using his off arm again against Tucker, this time hitting him in the midsection, although P.J. made it look as if he had gotten hit in the face.
Steph got a three from the top and a left-to-right banker with contact, but Knight drained a stepback triple on a pick-and-roll and the Suns still led, 51-44, with 5:17 left as Kerr called a timeout.
Kerr brought Curry back in, but the Suns held serve as Klay got caught using his off arm again against Tucker, this time hitting him in the midsection, although P.J. made it look as if he had gotten hit in the face.
Steph got a three from the top with what appeared to be contact (no whistle)…
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…and a left-to-right banker with contact, but Knight drained a stepback triple on a pick-and-roll and the Suns still led, 51-44, with 5:17 left as Kerr called a timeout.
Kerr brought in Patrick McCaw, who got a tap-out of an offensive board on Durant’s miss, leading to a KD left baseline dribble-and-pop.
Curry added an upfake on Len to draw throws, then Durant got fouled early in transition and narrowly missed a near-logo straightaway three, the ball falling short. However, the referees ruled the whistle a sideout.
Still, KD used a jab step at the top to get past Warren for a pretty bucket in the lane, then drew a charge on Marquese Chriss, prompting Phoenix head coach Earl Watson to call a timeout as the Warriors pulled to within 53-52 with 2:52 remaining.
Curry put on his chef hat with another upfake leading to another banker, Iguodala boarded a missed jumper from Warren then outlet to Durant, who fed Steph on the left wing wide-open for another three:
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That gave Golden State a 57-55 lead, the McCaw made two consecutive subtle defensive plays.
First, he stopped a Bledsoe shake on the left elbow that resulted in a brick by Dudley from the right side, then he swatted Len inside on help as Len tried to bully Draymond in the paint…
The Warriors have just told the Suns they have had enough pic.twitter.com/NEOobmY5RN
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) November 14, 2016
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…which led to Iguodala finding KD on the right arc for a swish, giving the Warriors a 60-55 lead with 47 seconds to go.
But with 6.8 ticks left, Durant lost the ball trying to go one-on-one, Len recovered the loose ball for an uncontested layup.
However, Warren made a bone-headed foul of KD at halfcourt on the next play with 4.4 seconds remaining, but Booker answered with a long two from the right arc at the buzzer.
Golden State took a 62-59 lead into halftime as Curry led all scorers with 20 points, Durant added 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Bledsoe led the Suns with 11 points. The Warriors talled 9 turnovers.
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @fortunamontana)
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