After the National Anthem concluded, TNT’s eavesdropping microphones caught a Phoenix Suns player getting his team pumped up, saying “It’s time for war! It’s time for war!”
A battle, it was. One of the most anticipated matchups of the first half of the season featured the West’s two best teams. The combat tactics included Phoenix’s surgical halfcourt offense, a lightning quick pace, stout competition for every rebound and the deployment of a variety of zone defenses from Golden State.
Both sides had some wounded soldiers, but that didn’t prevent a tense clash. There were seven lead changes and 10 ties. Neither team ever led by more than 10.
But in the end, the Suns extended their winning streak to a franchise record 17. Mikal Bridges defended Stephen Curry (12 points on 4-for-21 shooting) as well as anyone can. And for the first time this season, the Warriors (18-3) were held to less than 100 points, as the Suns took their first showdown of the year, 104-96.
Here are three takeaways from the heavyweight fight:
Heated Poole
With 4:42 left in the first quarter, DeAndre Ayton hit a free throw to put the Suns up 22-17. The Suns were crushing the Warriors on the glass and suffocating GSW’s guards defensively.
After Ayton’s free throw, Chris Pauls checked out. Stephen Curry had exited moments earlier.
While Curry sat, the Warriors needed a burst from someone. Anyone.
Jordan Poole sensed the need and delivered. He hit a 3 off a cross screen. Then a midrange 2. Another 3, this time in transition.
When Monty Williams called timeout, Poole had gone on his own 8-0 run. Directly out of the stoppage, the third-year guard out of Michigan hit another triple.
Poole heated up instantly. He finished with 16 points in the quarter, the most he’s ever scored in a single period, going 6-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from deep. He single-handedly flipped the game’s momentum.
Poole’s shot later cooled off, but also had two excellent passes that led to electric dunks from Gary Payton II.
In the past, teams have feasted against the Warriors with Curry on the bench. The way Poole’s playing, and with Klay Thompson’s return impending, Golden State has left that deficiency behind.
The size question
Throughout the years, there have always been teams that, on paper, present matchup challenges for the Warriors. These teams, hypothetically, have a traditional center that can hurt Golden State when they try to go small when it puts Draymond Green at center.
Sometimes the theory bares out, sometimes it doesn’t.
The Suns are one of those teams. DeAndre Ayton is a terrific, physical young center who’s quick enough to stay with guards on the perimeter, and therefore can stay on the floor when GSW sizes down.
Ayton impacted both paints on Tuesday. At times he looked unstoppable in the post, especially against switches, and he constantly affected shots at the rim defensively.
But the Warriors held their own. GSW’s rebounding has been the one aspect that has pleasantly surprised coach Steve Kerr this year, and it was as impressive as ever; the Warriors out-rebounded Phoenix, 51-35. In the fourth quarter, a swarm of Warriors inside forced Ayton to miss multiple looks at the basket.
Still, when the Warriors went with their faux-Death Lineup — Curry, Poole, Wiggins, Porter Jr. and Green — with about 5:30 remaining in the game, the Suns pulled away. GSW continued to turn it over, Ayton stuck with Poole on the perimeter, and Chris Paul mastered PHX’s halfcourt offense.
During that stretch, when Golden State went small against Phoenix’s traditional lineup, the Warriors went over three minutes without scoring. The Suns won the minutes
Kevon Looney has valiantly done the dirty work all year. James Wiseman, when he returns, could make Golden State more matchup-proof. It’s possible the size concern is overblown to begin with, but the Suns proved they’re prepared to counter.
The buzzkills
Even If these are the two best teams in the West, and perhaps the NBA, as many pundits believe, they both can be even better. And as tight as this game was, it can be even tighter.
With about six minutes left in the half, Devin Booker drove hard to the rim, took contact and then reached down for his left hamstring. He didn’t return to the game, a bummer for all involved.
And of course on the Warriors side, Klay Thompson and James Wiseman are still working back from their respective injuries. Andre Iguodala sat his seventh straight game with a knee injury. Damion Lee was assigned to Santa Cruz prior to Tuesday’s contest and even Andrew Wiggins was a game-time decision with back spasms.
The Warriors and Suns won’t be whole by Friday, either. But when they meet again on Christmas Day, that could be much closer to a true measuring stick. Then we may really get to see how these teams stack up.