Golden State Warriors guard Draymond Green (23) hits the Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (28) in the face leading to Green’s ejection for a flagrant 2 foul. Green spun around and hit Nurkic in the face knocking Nurkic to the floor. (Larry Brown Sports till photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Phoenix Suns (13-10) beat the Golden State Warriors (10-13) for the third time this season 119-116. The starters for the Warriors gave Stephen Curry no help at all. Draymond Green was once again ejected and the team had to carry on without him. As in their last game, they had a chance to tie up this game and failed. The Warrior bench and Curry were the only positives coming out of this game. 

Game recap: While the Warriors did not have a great start in the first quarter of the game, they did have a good finish. After the first 12 minutes of play this game was tied at 25. Bradley Beal was back in the lineup for the Suns and hit a three in his first possession. He only played six minutes in the quarter. The Warriors protected the ball well in the first quarter with only four turnovers so some nice improvement protecting the ball.

The Warriors started rolling in the second quarter hitting shot after shot building a 40-27 lead at 7:53. They let the game turn around for the Suns with under four minutes left in the quarter. Phoenix had battled back going on a 16 to 5 run and trailed by two points 45-43.

 The Warriors had let the Suns back into the game and given up a sizable lead. With under two minutes left in the half the game was tied at 50. This game could not have been closer with Golden State holding a 56-53 lead after two quarters.

Curry had scored 16 points for Golden State and Devon Booker was the high for the Suns with 13 points. This game had started out fairly sloppy for both teams but picked up in the second quarter. Both teams had six turnovers in the first half of play.

With 8:23 left on the clock in the third quarter Green was charged with a flagrant 2 and ejected from the game. He used excessive force on Jusef Nurkic smacking him in the face and the saga continues as Green left the floor. So once again the Warriors would have to play without the defense that Green provides.

With 4:56 left in the third quarter this game was tied at 73. At 3:53 the Suns took the lead for the first time in the third quarter 77-75. As the clock ran out on the quarter the Suns had a 88-87 lead. They won the quarter 35-31 in a tight game. 

It was the Warrior bench that was keeping Golden State in this game. They had accounted for 54 points through three quarters. Curry was the only starter in double digits with 21. Once again he was carrying the team on his back and needed help from his starters. 

With seven minutes left in regulation it was a one-point game, the Suns clinging to a slim lead. With 3:03 left in the game, the Suns had extended their lead to 109-98. In the closing minute of the game the Suns coughed up the ball several times and Golden State pulled to within three points 115-112. 

The Warriors had gone on a 18-6 run and with 9.4 seconds left in the game they had possession and needed a three-pointer to tie up the game. Curry got a look but missed on a very tough shot. 

It was another tough loss for Golden State as Curry came away with 24 points but got absolutely no help from Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson. The loss of Green in the third quarter was just another blow for the Warriors. 

It was the bench that kept the Warriors in this game finishing with 78 points collectively. The Golden State bench was the story of this game. The Warriors got a handle on the turnovers committing 15.

The fourth quarter was the Devon Booker show as the Suns took this game away. Booker finished with 32 points and Bradley Beal had 16 points in his return. The Warriors did come roaring back but it was just too late. Golden State will now wait and see what the ramifications of the Green ejection will bring about.

Post game notes: Tuesday night the Warriors traveled to Phoenix to take on the Suns. After a very disappointing loss to the OKC Thunder last Friday night 138-136, the Warriors had been gearing up for Tuesday’s game. They cleaned up not only the fouls but the turnovers giving up only four against the Suns. After committing 29 in Friday’s game they did better. Kevin Durant was not on the floor for the Suns out with an ankle, his second straight game however he is expected to play on Wednesday night. Chris Paul was back on the bench for Golden State.

Thursday night the Warriors will take on the Los Angeles Clippers at crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

 

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