NBA scores: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker Lead Suns in Route of Warriors

There was some excitement that went into Friday’s national TV showdown between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. Dubs have desperately searched for traction, momentum and something to believe, and a very impressive victory on Wednesday night against NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder gave a glimpse of these things.

Friday felt like a big test, against a talented Suns team that, despite their medium-sized record, has been among NBA’s elite when Kevin Durant is healthy.

And Kevin Durant was healthy.

And Warriors failed the test.

The first quarter was encouraging. Warriors ran early and tried to beat Suns down the field on any possession, even after made curve. They were unable to get anything to Steph Curry – who didn’t take a shot until about seven minutes in – but quality defense, some made triangles, and an offensive often in the transition held Warriors in it. They led at the half -way in the quarter, and thanks to a few Moses Moody Threes, stuck right by Phoenix’s hip until the buzzer. Despite Durant and Devin Booker who outscored Curry 16-0, Suns Lead was only 30-27. Encouraging!

Not long. After a short back and forth to start the other, Suns exploded for a 10-race with a moment. Credit to Warriors for not backing down. They continued to fight and continued to push into the transition, and although their violation was spread, they continued within punching distance of the effort alone. A brilliant sequence about halfway through the quarter happened when Buddy Hield, Buddy Hield, beat Suns down the field for a layup. Moody stole the ball at the other end where Andrew Wiggins found HIELD for a transition three to cut the lead to six points.

But a timeout was all that was needed to reset Suns that had an ultra-fast 8-0 ran right out of the break. Warriors finally put the clamps on Phoenix to finish half, but couldn’t find any own shots and pulled 62-51 during the break. Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal had the Outscored Curry 36-2.

They drew 10 at the break against the thunder, so there was reason for optimism, but this optimism did not last long. Curry eventually fell into a few buckets, but the defense was completely dissolved. The absence of Daymond Green? Fatigue after three matches of four nights? Just running into the elite offensive talent?

Probably all three, but regardless of the equation, Warriors couldn’t stop when Phoenix fell into 36 points in the quarter. Golden State continued to show signs of life and flirt to make it a respectable deficit, but a flurry of three equally triple from Durant made it a 98-79 game at the end of the quarter. With Warriors already only 1-18, when they pulled after three quarters, a 19-point deficit felt like a death sentence.

And it was actually. Warriors caught some fire from a distance, and Curry found a slightly offensive life with a burst of eight points, but Suns had an answer every time, with a large three or an offensive rebound or a transitional can. The deficit ballooned quickly in double, causing Steve Kerr to waive the white flag as his team limped to a 130-105 defeat and a large slice of humble pie.

Despite repeatedly getting out of the transition, Warriors had only 15 quick break points, a sign that they often had the right idea, and just the wrong execution. As has been standard recently, they were dominated in the paint (56-36); And like haven’t Has been standard recently their bench was outscored (56-49). Moody and Wiggins led Warriors with 17 points, while Curry and Brandin Podziemski had 14 each, and Hield 13, all in the first half. Booker led Suns with 31 points and 11 assists, while Beal had 21, Durant 19 and New Center Nick Richards 14 points with 16 rebounds.

Warriors shot only 37.5% from the field, while Suns shot 56.2%. Guilt it on the defense, or on the offense, or, if you want to be accurate, both.