Warriors Sink Suns After Steph Curry Dagger
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns fought for all 48 minutes, though it wasn't enough in their 113-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
The Warriors are now 6-1 over their last seven games and avoid the season sweep from Phoenix. The Suns' three-game winning streak is snapped as they fall to 31-22 on the year.
The two sides undoubtedly gave fans their price of admission, swinging back and forth in what was nothing short of a big game ahead of another major contest in the sporting world tomorrow on Super Bowl Sunday.
It was the Warriors who emerged early in the first quarter, leading 33-28 after the first 12 minutes of action thanks to strong defensive play. Golden State forced seven Suns turnovers in the opening frame. Royce O'Neale entered the game for Phoenix late in the first.
The Suns still trailed heading into the locker room, 59-58. Devin Booker failed to score any points in the second quarter after dropping nine in the first. Kevin Durant finished the first half with 15 of his own, ten of which came in the second.
After ten lead changes third quarter, Golden State still carried a 84-82 advantage heading into the fourth. The two sides exchanged blows down the stretch of the fourth quarter - and though the Warriors looked like they were going to pull away after being up by six late, the Suns pushed through and ultimately grabbed the lead late thanks to a Booker turnaround jumper and Durant block with under a minute left.
With 3.3 seconds left and down 112-110, the Warriors turned to Steph Curry on the in-bound play, which saw him scramble for a loose pass, reel it in and sink a deep three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left.
With one last hope, Phoenix (after Booker was fouled on the first in-bound play) turned to Durant for the final shot, though the Slim Reaper was unable to get a shot off as the buzzer sounded.
Booker led all scorers with 30 points to go along with four rebounds and six assists. Curry himself had 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Phoenix shot a poor 31.4% from three.
Neither team led by more than seven at any point.
The Suns return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
