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Warriors Look to Bounce Back at Home Against Suns

By Danny Saeed

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The Golden State Warriors will try to get back on track Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns after uncharacteristically dropped their second consecutive game on Friday night against the Utah Jazz, pushing their record to 36-8.

Golden State’s record-breaking 19 game win streak at home was put to a halt after suffering a damaging loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in overtime. The Warriors mysteriously went 0-for-13 from beyond the arc in the second half, and with the absence to all of their true centers, the Bulls’ bigs dominated the paint all night long.

It’s certainly fair to say that the Dubs merely took their two worse losses of the season in a back-to-back sequence, and I’m curious to witness them go through the resilience test. The overtime defeat to the Bulls was a tough pill to swallow, especially considering that Stephen Curry‘s turnover late in the final period led to another gasp of air for the Bulls, and then they were manhandled by the Jazz in every facet of the game.

This is by far the most adversity the Warriors have faced since last season’s Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. And it isn’t getting any easier for Steve Kerr‘s troops.

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The momentum-filled Phoenix Suns will be in town tonight to face the Warriors after back-to-back wins against two championship contending clubs in the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls. If the NBA season ended today, the Suns would be in the playoffs in the roaring Western Conference.

Phoenix was victorious in the first match-up against the Dubs in the Talking Stick Resort Arena, thanks to the Warriors’ 20+ turnovers that resulted in an utter self-destruction and the absence of All-Star guard Klay Thompson.

Nonetheless, the Suns are one of the top teams in fast-break points, something the Warriors are particularly adept at as well, and they don’t mind playing small ball either with Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, and Isaiah Thomas united on the floor. After two huge victories, the Suns will be rolling into Oracle arena dripping poise and momentum. Even though this game resides in the Oracle Arena where the Warriors have been virtually perfect, Golden State has more of a daunting task after dropping two straight than the Suns do, given that Phoenix has won two consecutive games against legitimate playoff threats.

However, I’m anticipating a Warriors win tonight, though I do not expect it to be an easy one. I cannot even fathom the Warriors losing three in a row, and I imagine that they come out with a boatload of energy tonight on both ends of the floor after back-to-back frustrating losses.

I expect Andrew Bogut to have a much better game and dominate the paint defensively after openly stating he had the worst game of the season. His usual dominating presence will change the entire dynamic for the Warriors on both ends of the floor.

Tale of the Tape 

Warriors:

  • Points per game: 110.9 (1st)
  • Field-goal percentage: 48.3% (1st)
  • Three-point percentage: 38.4% (2nd)
  • Defensive field-goal percentage: 42.2% (1st)
  • Rebounds per game: 44.9 (7th)
  • Turnovers: 14.7 (26th)
  • Offensive efficiency: 109.7 (3rd)
  • Defensive efficiency: 97.4 (1st)

Suns:

  • Points per game: 107.2 (2nd)
  • Field-goal percentage: 46.6% (6th)
  • Three-point percentage: 35.9% (T-9th)
  • Defensive field-goal percentage: 45.4% (20th)
  • Rebounds per game: 42.4 (18th)
  • Turnovers: 14.4 (T-24th)
  • Offensive efficiency: 107.0 (6th)
  • Defensive efficiency: 104.0 (18th)

Injury Report

GSW: Festus Ezeli is currently on D-League assignment.

PHX: Reggie Bullock (left shoulder surgery) and Archie Goodwin are currently on D-League assignement.

Probable Starters

GOLDEN STATE (36-8)

PHOENIX (28-20)

Game Info

Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: LOCAL

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