PHOENIX – After LJ Cryer buried a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, the second-year guard meandered to the bench as the Suns called a timeout with three minutes remaining in Saturday’s game at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The first man to greet him off the bench? Steph Curry, decked out in a grey hoodie and green striped pants. Next to him was Draymond Green, who had decided to don shades and a jean jacket, Brandin Podziemski in casual attire and a similarly-dressed Al Horford.
It might have been the teams’ first matchup since the Suns bounced Golden State out of the postseason last May, and the Suns’ home opener, but revenge was not a word mentioned before or after the 131-122 Suns victory that sent the visitors to 0-3. After all, the Suns had their Hall of Famer — Devin Booker, who poured in 43 points — and the Warriors did not.
Curry, Green and Horford sat out strictly for rest purposes after Friday’s gutting loss to the Grizzlies, while Podziemski was scratched as the team managed his back issue.
That gave the Warriors an opportunity to give Yaxel Lendeborg chances to handle the ball while guarding Dillon Brooks on the other end, and afforded reserves such as Cryer and Will Richard chances to take on larger roles.
Kerr cracked a pregame joke about his emotional end of game huddle goodbye speech during the play-in loss – “I was kidding” – and then watched his 11-man crew give the Suns everything they could handle.
De’Anthony Melton followed up his 10-point effort against the Grizzlies with an 25-point performance against Booker, who responded with a game-high 43 points. Melton ran off 12 straight points in the third quarter, with his last 3-pointer coming off the dribble and rattling around the rim before falling through the net. That made it 89-86.
But while the Warriors had grit, the Suns had an elite player. Booker’s 43 points came on 17 of 25 shooting as he willed the Suns to the win.
Warriors guard Brandon Williams scored 20 and made 8 of his 11 free throws. Lendeborg experienced what it was like to be the primary focus of a defense, and responded by putting up 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The team’s depth became even thinner in the second half. Gui Santos appeared to injure his left leg on a shot by the rim late in the third quarter and walked back to the locker room with team medical personnel.
Kerr received a technical with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Warriors more technical fouls on the season (4) than games played (3).
Undrafted Warriors rookie Graham Ike started his second game in a row. His isaiah Hartenstein-esque floater – the description Kerr gave Ike’s push shot – was a little off in Phoenix but he still scored 12. and grabbed 10 boards
The Warriors, depleted as they were, led 25-21 after one quarter. Charles Bassey returned from a bout with tendinitis, played his first game of the season and immediately made an impact with his activity around the rim by grabbing three rebounds. He finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
The Warriors (0-3) will have an off day in Denver before taking on the Nuggets on Monday.