Bradley Beal was back. He hit the first bucket of the game, a three-pointer, and looked healthy and spry throughout, helping the Suns overcome late miscues and escape with a 119-116 win. The game had an ejection, an extended Bol Bol sighting, and almost as many storylines as the last time the two teams played.
Suns fans had been hopeful they’d see the Big 3 play for the first time all season but Kevin Durant was rested in an abundance of caution with his ankle injury. But a Big 2 was enough tonight, barely. Beal played 27 mins in his return, finishing with 16 points and 3 assists while chipping in a steal and a block. Devin Booker was the best player in the game, though, finishing with 32 points and 7 assists with just two turnovers.
The game began with a barrage of 3s from both teams. Chimezie Metu, who got his first start, made 3 threes, finishing with 14 points and 5 boards. Josh Okogie also made three 3s early in the game but only finished with 10 points as he missed the second half due to a hip injury.
The Suns got up early, but the wheels fell off when Bol Bol entered the game with 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Bol Bol played like a chicken with his head cut off and was constantly cooked on defense. In his 5 minutes of play, he finished with a game-worst -16 plus-minus. The memes were flowing, but many of us will be happy if we never see this man play another minute for the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors bench dominated the Suns even when Bol Bol wasn’t out there, finishing with 78 bench points. Brandin Podziemski, the rookie from Santa Clara, had his first double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds along with 5 assists. Jonathan Kuminga had 16 points. Dario Saric used his big ole booty to create shots and finished with 15 points.
Draymond Green lost his cool again in the third quarter, getting ejected on a flagrant 2 when he swung wildly and karate chopped Jusuf Nurkic in the face. Watch the play for yourself, but it did not look accidental. Will he be suspended?
Beal made one of the biggest shots of the night to end the third quarter and put the Suns up by 1 going into the 4th. But the unsung hero of the night and particularly the second half was Sub Zero, Jordan Goodwin. He was everywhere on both ends, finishing with 16 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block in 30 minutes of play. Look at him diving on the floor here and getting it out to Booker for the highlight dunk of the night.
It all looked over when the Suns were up by 13 with 4 minutes to play. But they reverted to the stumbling, bumbling turnover machines again, having 3 turnovers in just over a minute of play and letting the Warriors right back into the game. The Warriors had a chance to tie on the last shot, but Stephen Curry inexplicably threw up a wild off-balance 3 with over 6 seconds left, trying more to get fouled. He didn’t get fouled, the shot was way off, and the Suns snuck out of the Footprint Center with the close victory. Between Steph going 8 for 24, Draymond’s insanity in getting ejected AGAIN, and Klay Thompson finishing with 7 points on 2 for 10 shooting, the Warriors lost the game more so than the Suns won it. Still counts. Now the Suns prepare for Mikal and Cam’s return to the Footprint Center tomorrow with the Nets!
