The Warriors got their best player back and the Suns were without their top stars, but the Warriors started slow and didn’t have enough time to fully recover in Tuesday’s 125-113 loss to the Suns at Chase Center.
Stephen Curry returned to game action and made several big shots in the fourth quarter as the Dubs attempted a comeback after trailing by as many as 27 points late in the third quarter. The Warriors got within six points, but it was a familiar face that helped put the Dubs away for the Suns. Damion Lee, who played the previous four seasons for the Warriors, made six free throws over the game’s final 73 seconds, helping send the Dubs to their third straight defeat.
Golden State Warriors Highlights vs. Phoenix Suns
Klay Thompson led the way for the Warriors with 29 points, and Jordan Poole and Curry both came on late to finish with 27 and 24 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough on a night in which the Warriors were held to 38.5 percent shooting from the floor and were outrebounded 58-45.
Team Leaders
GSW
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson - 29 | Green - 12 | D. Green - 6 |
| Poole - 27 | Looney - 8 | Poole - 8 |
| Curry - 24 | 4 Tied - 5 | Curry/Iguodala - 3 |
PHX
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Bridges - 26 | Craig - 14 | Saric - 7 |
| Lee - 22 | Bridges - 9 | Bridges - 5 |
| Washington - 21 | Saric - 9 | Washington - 5 |
CURRY COMES BACK
Stephen Curry played his first game since injuring his left shoulder in Indiana on Dec. 14. Curry missed 11 games over nearly four weeks, and he sported an arm-length sleeve to protect his injured left shoulder. Curry finished with 24 points in 31 minutes, making five 3-pointers. After struggling to start the game, Curry came on strong late, scoring 16 points in the fourth period.
Stephen Curry Drops 24 Points in His Return to Action | Jan. 10, 2022
FIRST QUARTER KLAY
Early on, Klay Thompson kept the Warriors in the game. He hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter and had 14 of his 29 points in the period. It was Thompson’s sixth straight game with at least 20 points, and since Christmas Day he’s second in the NBA with an average of 11.3 first quarter points.
Klay Thompson Comin' Out Hot
Thompson’s shooting kept the Warriors afloat in a back-and-forth first quarter. There were 11 lead changes in the period, but Phoenix took the lead for good during a 10-0 run to end the quarter. Phoenix, playing without four of their five Opening Night starters, including Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, stretched a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter to 14 at halftime. The Suns continued to dominate the action to start the third quarter, and held a 92-65 lead with 2:25 left in the period.
DUBS MAKE A RUN
After trailing by as many as 27 points in the third quarter, Jordan Poole started a Warriors comeback attempt. Poole, who returned to his sixth man role with Curry back in action, had 17 points during a 21-8 Warriors run that brough the Dubs back into the game.
Jordan Poole with the great play!
Curry ignited a separate run by scoring eight consecutive points in a span of 40 seconds, and Poole completed a 16-4 spurt with a dunk and a 3-pointer to bring the Warriors within six at 117-111, but the Dubs would get no closer than that, as Phoenix went 8-for-8 on free throws down the stretch.
WELCOME BACK D-LEE
Prior to the game, former Warriors guard Damion Lee received his 2022 NBA Championship Ring. Lee, who is Stephen Curry’s brother-in-law, played four seasons with the Warriors and appeared in 10 postseason games during the team’s Championship run.
Stephen Curry Presents Damion Lee with 2022 Championship Ring
Playing in his first game at Chase Center as a visitor, Lee started out hot. He made his first three shots and had 14 points in his first 11 minutes of game action. Lee would finish with 22 points, making the free throws in the final minute that iced the game for his new club.
HOMESTAND COMPLETE
After starting the franchise-long-tying eight-game homestand with five wins, the Warriors lost their next three games, all to teams with below .500 records. The Dubs, who previously had the best home record in the NBA, are now 17-5 at Chase Center this season.
UP NEXT
Following the extended homestand, the Warriors will now head out on a five-game road trip that opens in San Antonio. The game will be played at the Alamodome, which will have a capacity crowd of 65,000 if the game sells out.