Fantastic finish: Golden State extends win streak to 4
Wearing a black suit and brown shirt, Warriors guard Stephen Curry spent much of Friday night leaning forward in his chair as he chewed gum.
But as Golden State stormed back from a 13point deficit to escape Chase Center with a 10596 win over the Suns, Curry could hardly stay seated, darting up and down the sideline as he yelled until his voice became hoarse. In the Warriors’ first game against the Suns since Phoenix center Aron Baynes inadvertently landed on Curry in late October and broke the twotime MVP’s left hand, they had showed just how far they’ve come.
Little more than a week after opening 524, Golden State has pushed its first winning streak of the season to four games. Without Curry’s signature 30footers, dazzling dribbling displays and scoop shots, Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell, castoffs and youngsters have established an identity all their own, out
hustling opponents to overcome talent deficits.
That was yet again the case Friday, when the Warriors outscored the Suns 3918 in the fourth quarter to climb out of a doubledigit hole. As the final buzzer sounded, Curry jogged toward midcourt, embracing his teammates and shouting congratulatory words.
When Curry crumpled to the floor as he grabbed his left hand nearly two months ago against Phoenix, the Warriors’ decisionmakers knew their longshot playoffs hopes probably had deflated. This season had hinged on a transcendent run from the face of the franchise. When news broke that he’d require surgery that would rule him out until at least February, Golden State went allin on its youth movement.
But as losses mounted in recent weeks, the Warriors made important strides. Now, after it has needed just four games to nearly match its win total from the previous 29, Golden State is pleased that progress is translating to results.
Those inside the Warriors’ organization reckon that it’s no coincidence this winning streak has coincided with Curry’s return to the bench after two weeks recovering from a second procedure on his left hand in Los Angeles. In addition to providing a goto cheerleader, he has peppered young players with pointers and pointed out holes in the defense to Golden State’s coaches.
Along the way, the Warriors have continued to cement their status as one of the league’s most diligent teams. They repeatedly got into passing lanes Friday and forced 26 turnovers. This paved the way for 17 more shot attempts than Phoenix, which helped Golden State weather a slew of miscues.
It ultimately didn’t matter that the Warriors shot 41.3% from the field or that Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored 34 points. With Russell (31 points, six assists) and Damion Lee (16 points) leading the way, Golden State kept the good vibes flowing in a season once defined by adversity.
And perhaps no one enjoyed it more than Curry, who should be cleared to travel with the Warriors in coming weeks. The team is optimistic that he will return to the court sometime in February or March.