TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA, PHOENIX, AZ — This is a continuation of the halftime recap of the Golden State Warriors at the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors took a 57-43 lead into halftime.
3rd Quarter – Warriors Cruising
Harrison Barnes hit two threes to start the second half, but the Suns countered with a jumper by Markieff Morris and an “and-one” banker by Devin Booker.
But after turnovers by Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry on careless passes, plus a bad screen for Curry by Barnes, Morris got a stepback and Archie Goodwin drove the length of the floor for a finger roll, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn’t like the trend and called timeout.
Phoenix had trimmed the Golden State lead to 63-52 with 8:36 to go in the third frame.
Out of the timeout, Curry scored a triple from the right wing, assisted by Bogut.
Later, Booker scored a layup on a cut, but the Warriors took the ball out quickly and Draymond Green found Thompson on a near-identical cut to nullify the Suns’ brief momentum.
On the next possession, Goodwin got past his man, but got swatted by Bogut, his third blocked shot at the rim. Curry missed the three in transition, but Booker tapped the loose board to the middle of the floor where Steph happened to be closest, and Curry delivered a behind-the-back lefty fling over to Klay on the right arc for a swish:
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Another view…
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Suns head coach Earl Watson called timeout with 6:34 remaining as the Warriors stretched their lead out to 73-54.
Later, Goodwin got a beautiful swooping two-handed alley-oop, but Curry came right back with a finger roll from the right side, dissecting the Suns’ defense in the process.
Leandro Barbosa came off the bench and provided a steal and a finger roll on a cut, assisted by Andre Iguodala, plus another layup on a give-and-go with Rush with under a minute to go, but he also committed two fouls and missed an open three from the corner.
Phoenix big man Mirza Teletovic came to life, hitting two triples en route to eight straight Suns points, but after P.J. Tucker missed a three, Green got the board, outlet to Curry, and Steph used his threat of the a pull-up three to up-fake Morris and blow by him for an easy righty scoop.
A Morris layup and an Iguodala finger roll closed out the quarter and the Warriors had a 91-75 lead heading into the fourth period.
4th Quarter – Curry Sits Entire Quarter, Bench Unit Keeps Suns At Bay
The bench unit missed their first six shots and committed two turnovers after that and, after a layup by Orlando Johnson, the Warriors’ lead dwindled to 91-81 with 9:42 to go.
But Shaun Livingston raced up court and got an “and-one” to drop on a scoop, although the call was initially on the ground with the bucket disallowed. Livingston’s free throw put the Warriors back up by a baker’s dozen, 94-81.
Thompson then stole a pass from Booker and pulled up for three from the right wing.
After Johnson missed a putback tip, Livingston raced up court again and found Marreese Speights running the lane for a layup with the foul by Morris. That put the Warriors up, 100-83.
Later, Thompson got another steal and dropped a behind the back lefty pass for Livingston, who soared for a tomahawk, but was fouled as the ball clanged off the back rim.
Klay then stole the ball from Morris then Speights missed a three. Morris missed a layup and Phoenix called timeout with 5:57 to go.
Morris then got a jumper to go, Speights missed another shot then Chandler put back Goodwin’s putback effort.
Shaun Livingston was fouled by Goodwin and he hit two free throws then Goodwin on the next possession got a driving lay-up to go making it a 14 point game.
Mo Speights then got a running dunk on the feed from Livingston after misses by Klay and Johnson. The score was 105-89 with 3:50 to go.
Jason Thompson then checked into the game but straight away fouled Chandler who made both free throws.
Barnes missed a three then JT fouled Chandler once again. He made just one free throw and the Warriors’ lead was still 13 with 3:01 to go. Klay and Morris then missed a shot each and Steve Kerr called timeout with 2:24 to go. The score was 105-93 at this point.
After the timeout, Clark checked into the game, then Klay got to the free throw line and made both. In between the free throws, Kevon Looney checked in.
Booker made a three then Ian Clark got a jumper to go with 1:44 to go.
Looney missed a shot, Goodwin got one to go then Kevon Looney banked in his first career three pointer!
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Goodwin then got three buckets in a row in the final minute but the lead was too big and the Warriors cruised to their 48th win of the season.
Final Score: 112-104 Warriors (48-4).
Curry finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
Draymond also had to cool down Barbosa after the game
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