SAN FRANCISCO — Even with a heavy schedule and a sniffly superstar, the Golden State Warriors’ home-court advantage remains impenetrable. Stephen Curry scored 28 points despite battling a worsening cold, and Moses Moody provided a massive spark off the bench with 24 points as the Warriors built a huge early lead and weathered a second-half storm to defeat the short-handed Phoenix Suns 118-107 on Tuesday night.
Dominant Start, Balanced Attack
The Warriors (4-0 at home) came out firing, opening the game on an 11-0 run and ending the first quarter with a commanding 33-19 lead after sinking 7 of 11 three-pointers. This balanced offensive effort was a welcome sight for a team in the grueling stretch of a long road trip.
While Curry led the way with five three-pointers, the supporting cast shined brightly. Moses Moody matched Curry’s five threes en route to his 24 points, providing crucial scoring when the team needed it most. Quinten Post (14 points), Brandin Podziemski (13 points), and Buddy Hield (12 points) all finished in double figures, showcasing the team’s depth.
Suns’ Valiant Comeback Falls Short
The Phoenix Suns, playing without Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, were carried by Devin Booker’s season-high 38 points. After trailing by as many as 19 points, the Suns used a dominant 20-6 run to end the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just nine points (92-83) and setting up a tense finish.
However, the Warriors’ defense stabilized in the fourth quarter, and their early cushion proved enough to hold off the charging Suns. Mark Williams added a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double for Phoenix, who remain winless on the road.
Injury Watch Clouds Warriors’ Win
The victory came with concerns for the Warriors. Jimmy Butler (lower back soreness) started but played only 14 minutes, scoring 2 points before sitting out the entire second half. He is considered questionable for Wednesday’s game.
More notably, Coach Steve Kerr announced that ailing star Stephen Curry will sit out the second game of the back-to-back in Sacramento due to his bad cold. Veteran Al Horford also sat out this game to manage a left toe injury.
The Warriors continue to be a fortress at home, but their resilience will be immediately tested. With Curry sidelined and Butler banged up, Golden State’s depth will need to step up once again as they head to Sacramento to complete a brutal stretch of eight games in 13 days.