PHOENIX — Putting together full, 48-minute performances is starting to become an issue for the Warriors, and it certainly was in their fourth straight loss.
Against the Suns at the Footprint Center, the Warriors fell behind early because of poor defense and, despite a furious effort, couldn’t dig out of the hole.
Steph Curry returned from a one-game absence to score 23 points, but Devin Booker out-did his Olympics teammate with 27 and nine assists. Phoenix won the first half 66-49, holding off the Warriors from there with steady play from its stars.
The Warriors (12-7) brought more urgency in the second half, but didn’t have enough juice in the fourth quarter as the Suns outlasted them, 113-105.
After slicing a 17-point halftime deficit to seven with a strong third quarter, the Warriors worked their way into a five point game with 71 seconds left.
But instead of truly flipping the game, the Suns steadied enough to hold off Golden State. Teams with closers like Kevin Durant and Booker have a habit of crushing comeback dreams.
Earlier in the game, the Suns shot the lights out, earning a double-digit lead by starting 9-for-13 from 3.
Brandin Podziemski (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) helped keep the Warriors close, scoring eight first-quarter points — including a pair of much-needed 3s. The second-year guard drew two offensive fouls and got two individual stops in isolation against Kevin Durant as well.
Phoenix constantly put the Warriors’ defense into scramble mode, with Durant drawing double teams or other players driving into the lane and swinging it around the perimeter. They created open 3 after open 3, nailing 14 of 21 in a 66-49 first half.
The Warriors played 13 players, including Pat Spencer, in the first 14 minutes of the game. It continued Golden State’s season-long trend of playing a deep rotation to try to maximize defensive intensity — only Saturday night, there wasn’t much of that.
“It’s not easy on the players, it’s not easy on the coaches trying to figure out who to play and when,” Kerr said pregame. “I think we’re still sorting through combinations, trying to figure out the best solutions from one night to the next. I don’t necessarily think this is the way it’s going to go for 82 games.”
Sure enough, Kerr naturally adjusted his rotation down in the second half. Kevon Looney replaced Trayce Jackson-Davis to start the second half, joining Curry, Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green. The Warriors instantly went on a 7-0 run behind improved defense.
Instead of matching Phoenix’s five-out lineups with smaller groups, the Warriors more frequently played two bigs together in the second half for defense and rebounding purposes. It worked, with the Warriors winning the third period 29-19.
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Curry, who went 0-for-5 in the first half in his first game back from runner’s knee, dropped 15 points in the third quarter. He played with tape on his right knee and a leg sleeve on his left.
Even with long stoppages — one for a challenge and another to fix an earlier mix up — that gave everyone extra rest, the Warriors didn’t sub Curry back in until his normal shift with 7:36 left.
By then, the Warriors were back down 10. Jonathan Kuminga, who started 0-for-8t, got blocked and Green threw a turnover into the first row. Phoenix went on a 10-0 run, matching their game-high 17-point lead.
In the last three minutes, the Warriors tried a full-court press, which sped Phoenix up. Kuminga ripped Tyus Jones for a steal-and-slam, inching the Warriors within six as the clock ticked under two. Then, after Kuminga’s fourth bucket of the final frame, Golden State forced an eight-second violation.
But the admirable effort wasn’t enough.