The Warriors set a season-high with 80 bench points in their 119-116 loss to the Suns in Phoenix on Tuesday. The Dubs had five reserves in double-figures and their reserves outscored the Suns' bench by 50, 80-30. Eighty bench points is a single-game league-high this season. Brandin Podziemski (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Paul (15 points, 11 assists) each recorded double-doubles.
The Warriors trailed by 13 with less than three minutes left, but with Curry and four reserves, they went on an 18-6 run to trim the deficit to within one.
Game Highlights: Suns 119 - Warriors 116
Team Leaders
GSW
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Curry - 24 | Podziemski - 11 | Paul - 11 |
| Podziemski - 20 | Kuminga - 6 | Podziemski - 5 |
| Kuminga - 16 | Four-tied - 5 | Curry - 4 |
PHX
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Booker - 32 | Nurkic - 13 | Booker - 7 |
| Nurkic - 17 | Eubanks - 6 | Nurkic - 7 |
| Beal/Goodwin - 16 | Goodwin/Metu - 5 | Goodwin - 6 |
BENCH SPEARHEADS 18-2 RUN
The Warriors went on an 18-2 run bridging the first and second quarters and their bench was responsible for 16 of those points. The Dubs fell behind 7-0 to begin the game but gained a double-digit lead thanks to their second unit, which had outscored the Suns' reverses by 20 (26-6) up to that point. Chris Paul's fifth assist, an alley-oop to Jonathan Kuminga, capped the run as the Warriors assisted on 12 of their first 14 made field goals.
Jonathan Kuminga goes up to get it and finishes the oop
30 FIRST HALF 3-POINT ATTEMPTS
The Dubs attempted a season-high 30 3-pointers in the first half and their final attempt was a go-ahead splash from Stephen Curry with 3.1 seconds remaining. Curry scored 16 first-half points in 16 minutes and hit three of the Warriors' 11 made triples. Two former Suns — Chris Paul and Dario Saric — joined Curry as Warriors with multiple made 3-pointers in the half, hitting two apiece. Only the Memphis Grizzlies (32 3PA) have attempted more 3-pointers in a half this season.
What a shot by Stephen Curry
PODZIEMSKI AND KUMINGA EARN SECOND-HALF START
Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga were catalysts in the Warriors' first-half run and Head Coach Steve Kerr rewarded them by starting them to begin the second half. They replaced Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney, joining the Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green trio. Podziemski (7) and Kuminga (3) combined to score 10 of the Warriors' first 14 points to begin the half.
Podziemski led the Warriors in rebounds (11) and made field goals (9), while Kuminga recorded his third straight game in double-figures with 16 points.
Brandin Podziemski finishes through contact
ANOTHER NARROW ROAD LOSS
Headed into Tuesday’s contest, the Warriors had lost their previous three road games by a combined margin of just four points. Tuesday's three-point loss to the Suns was their fourth straight one-possession road loss. The Warriors and Suns rank first and second for the most ‘clutch time’ games in the league this season (games within five points in the final five minutes), with the Warriors moving to 9-10 (19 games played) in those scenarios and the Suns being 7-8 (15 games played).
Postgame Warriors Talks
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- Postgame Warriors Talk: Draymond Green - 12/12/23
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- Postgame Warriors Talk: Brandin Podziemski - 12/12/23
- Postgame Warriors Talk: Moses Moody - 12/12/23
UP NEXT
The Warriors conclude their three-game road trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers before returning to Chase Center to host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
MORE NOTABLES:
- Golden State last four losses, all on the road, have been decided by a combined seven points.
- This season the Warriors have played 19 "clutch games" - games decided in the final five minutes or overtime when the score is within five points … The Warriors lead the NBA with 19 of these games (9-10 record); second is Phoenix with 15 (7-8 record).
- The Warriors reserves scored a season high 80 points (prev. 58, 11/3 at OKC) … The last time the Warriors bench scored 80-or-more points was 4/9/22 at Portland (88 points) … The Warriors’ bench has outscored the opponents in 19 of the 23 games this season.
- The Warriors had five reserves score at least 10 points tonight … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Golden State’s last regular season game in which five-or-more Warriors reserves scored in double-figures was on 11/9/2009 vs. Minnesota - Anthony Randolph (23), Anthony Morrow (20), C.J. Watson (13), Corey Maggette (11), Acie Law (10).
- Rookie Brandin Podziemski recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds (prev. eight, three times) ... He also had a career-high-tying five assists (11/14 vs. MIN) … It’s the second time Podziemski has scored 20-or-more points.
- Chris Paul recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 assists, his ninth game scoring in double figures and sixth game with 10-or-more assists.
- Dario Saric tallied 15 points off the bench, scoring in double figures in 11 of the last 13 games.