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Warriors pull away from Suns to regain NBA top spot
Curry, Porter score cluth points during late stretch.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2021.12.25 – Stephen Curry had 33 points, Otto Porter Jr. scored seven of his 19 during a key late stretch and the Golden State Warriors regained the top spot in the NBA from Phoenix, pulling away from the Suns 116-107 on Saturday.
Warriors kept it close despite being short-handed, setting the stage for a player to take over down the stretch. One did — and it wasn’t Curry. The late-game honors belong to Porter Jr.
“I drew up every play, I completely organized every aspect of it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said sarcastically. “Otto was great. He’s just added so much to our team with his shooting from that position and his rebounding and defense.”
Golden State arrived in the desert short-handed, missing three of its top four scorers to health and safety protocols: Andrew Wiggins, Damion Lee and Jordan Poole.
Curry carried most of the load, overcoming a mediocre shooting night to crack 20 points for the first time in nine Christmas games. He finished 10 for 27, including 5 for 16 from 3 to help the Warriors end Phoenix’s 15-game home winning streak.
“I talked about it a lot and I knew what the numbers said,” Curry said of his prior Christmas woes. “So it was definitely a concerted effort to get off to a good start and just enjoy myself. Now I’m ready to get home.”
2021.12.25 – Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns – (NBA Video highlights)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) center shoots between Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) right and forward Jae Crowder (99) left during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2021.12.25 – Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns – (NBA Video highlights)
2021.12.25 – Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns – (NBA Video highlights)
Porter hit a step-back 3 and a pair of jumpers in a span of 1:02.
“Coach drew up a couple plays that freed me open,” Porter said. “Did a good job of finding me, was able to find a rhythm.”
The Suns had their chances, keeping it close until the closing minutes in a raucous home atmosphere. They couldn’t close it out, failing to score over the final 3:01 to lose for the third time in 28 games.
Chris Paul had 21 points and eight assists to take up some of the slack from leading scorer Devin Booker, who was held to 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting. Deandre Ayton added 18 points and Mikal Bridges 17.
“They created those breaks. They played harder than us,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “It’s rare when I say that about our team. They outworked us more consistently for 50-50 balls, timely offensive rebounds, diving out of bounds to save balls.”
The two teams with the NBA’s best records played in just the third Christmas game in which both teams had a winning percentage of at least .800.
Playing on Christmas is nothing new to the Warriors. This was their ninth straight Christmas Day game and 11th in 12 seasons. The Suns, once regulars on the Christmas schedule, were in their first since 2009.
“The fact it came on Christmas, we’re on the road, what a great Christmas gift for our guys,” Kerr said. “They obviously gave it to themselves, but it’s fun playing on Christmas, there’s a special vibe and obviously this game with the two teams with the best record in the league had a special feel to it.”
2021.12.25 – Kerr praises Kuminga’s development (Post Game Video)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga drives on Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2021.12.25 – Kerr praises Kuminga’s development (Post Game Video)
2021.12.25 – Kerr praises Kuminga’s development (Post Game Video)
Both teams put on an after-the-presents offensive show at Footprint Center, sending oohs and aahs across the Footprint Center with each dunk and 3-pointer.
Curry had 11 points in the first quarter and Gary Payton Jr. a massive rebound slam as the Warriors built an early 10-point lead. The Suns revved it up in the second quarter, going on a 15-3 run and taking a 62-58 halftime lead on Paul’s last-second 3-pointer.
The teams continued to trade 3s and baskets in transition, neither able to gain any separation until Golden State went on a short run to go up 107-99.
The Suns pulled within two, but Porter hit consecutive jumpers and a long 3 to stretch Golden State’s lead to nine.
“He can shoot the ball,” Curry said of Porter. “I know he’s been through a lot of injuries, but he’s been working his butt off since he got here this summer and you could tell he looked confident and composed with what he was trying to do in getting to his spots and knocking it down.”
The Warriors and Suns entered the fourth quarter tied at 84-84 and that’s when Curry began his best stretch of the game, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes of the quarter to help Golden State regain command of the game. With Phoenix determined to take away looks for Curry down the stretch, the Warriors leaned on Porter, who finished with a season-high 19 points.
“They wanted it more and they played like it,” Booker said. “We just have to take this loss and move on to our next game.”
MISSING COACHES
The four players weren’t the only ones Golden State had in health and safety protocols. The Warriors also had four coaches out, forcing Kerr and his staff to shuffle responsibilities.
“Missing all those guys was really bizarre,” Kerr said. “The group did a really good job. These are strange times for a lot of reasons, but I’ve never seen four coaches out at the same time.”
2021.12.25 – Curry, Warriors make statement in win (Post Game Video)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts after scoring against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2021.12.25 – Curry, Warriors make statement in win (Post Game Video)
2021.12.25 – Curry, Warriors make statement in win (Post Game Video)
TIP INS
Warriors: Reserve G Moses Moody also was out in health and safety protocols. … Draymond Green was called for a technical foul in the second quarter while arguing for a push-off by Booker. … Curry has made a 3-pointer in 156 straight games, one off the NBA record he set from 2014-16. He’s also made at least two 3-pointers in 15 straight games, the longest active streak in the NBA with Phoenix’s Cam Johnson.
Suns: F/C Frank Kaminsky (knee), F Abdel Nader (knee) and F Dario Saric (knee) were all out. … Paul was called for a technical foul in the third quarter after aggressively giving the ball to one of the officials after a non-call on a drive to the basket. … Johnson went 2 for 5 from 3 to continue his streak of making at least two to 15 games.
THOMPSON’S PROGRESS
Kerr said Klay Thompson played 5-on-5 back in San Francisco on Wednesday and was expected to do so again Friday. The star guard hasn’t played since the 2019 NBA Finals because of a knee and then an Achilles tendon injury.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host Denver on Tuesday night.
Suns: Host Memphis on Monday night.
Related – See : Curry Greatest 3-Point Shooter in NBA History
Related – See below: 2018 Warriors NBA Finals (video)
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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2018 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights