Looking to bounce back from one of their most painful losses of
the season, the Golden State Warriors instead suffered another
disappointing night in the desert. Friday night’s 108-97 loss to
the Phoenix Suns was Golden State’s third in a row and 12th
straight at US Airways Center. It also clinched the Suns’ first
season sweep of the series since 2001-02.
PHOENIX
Looking to bounce back from one of their most painful losses of the season, the Golden State Warriors instead suffered another disappointing night in the desert.
Friday night’s 108-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns was Golden State’s third in a row and 12th straight at US Airways Center. It also clinched the Suns’ first season sweep of the series since 2001-02.
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The Warriors entered the night 9-24 away from Oracle Arena and never seriously threatened to shake their road woes.
After falling behind 7-2, the Suns took the lead for good with a 17-2 run. Golden State never again got closer than five.
The Suns did most of their damage in the paint, taking advantage of Andris Biedrins’ absence and rookie Ekpe Udoh’s ineffectiveness.
Biedrins didn’t make the trip because of a severely sprained left ankle, and when Udoh got into early foul trouble, Phoenix took off.
The Suns scored 50 points in the paint, outscoring Golden State by 16.
Phoenix had not been setting the paint on fire recently, either. During a four-game losing streak, the Suns gave up an average of 47 points in the paint.
Udoh looked shaky in 18 minutes, hitting just 1 of 5 shots and finishing with three points. He had two blocks in the first four minutes, but after picking up two fouls, Udoh was glued to the bench for nearly 15 minutes.
Marcin Gortat took advantage of the lack of a post presence, scoring six quick points inside as the Suns pulled away. Gortat finished with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds.
Facing little resistance in the paint, the Suns turned up the defensive effort on Monta Ellis. The Warriors’ leading scorer was held to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Stephen Curry was sharp early but went large stretches of the second half without making a mark. He had a chance to cut the Suns’ lead to six in the final minute but rimmed out a three-point attempt.
Curry finished with 15 points in 35 minutes. Dorell Wright had a team-high 30 points, and David Lee scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Warriors’ road doesn’t get any easier from here.
On Sunday, the Warriors play a Dallas team that overcame an 18-point first-half deficit to defeat Golden State on Wednesday.
The quick trip to Texas ends with games at San Antonio and Houston. The Warriors now sit seven games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but coach Keith Smart said he isn’t about to make any changes.
“Preparation is still the same. We’re still going about our business the same way, because one day we’re going to need to be ready to play this time of year to get ready for the playoffs,” Smart said before the game. “The approach is still the same, and it’ll be that way all the way through, regardless of where we are.
“You have to see how guys are going to continue to play.”
— Story by Alex Pavlovic, San Jose Mercury News
