Sloppy 4th Quarter Play Leads to Warriors Opening Night Loss to Phoenix Suns

Liam O'Connor

October 24, 2023

(Guard Stephen Curry scores a highly contested layup by two players)

The Golden State Warriors kicked off their 2023-2024 NBA season with high expectations but fell short in a close matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Opening Night. The game, held at the Chase Center, was a game that came down to the wire, but ultimately led to a Phoenix Win.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had cautioned fans that the team might not meet their own lofty expectations for the season opener, and that prediction seemed accurate early in the game. In the first half, the Warriors found themselves trailing the Suns by 15 points, primarily due to cold shooting performances from their star players. Chris Paul, in his Suns revenge game, started 0-for-6, Klay Thompson was 3-for-10, and Andrew Wiggins struggled to make easy shots, going 2-for-8 from the field in the first half.

In a twist from last season, it was the Warriors' second unit that injected life into the game. Players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and Dario Saric, alongside Chris Paul, brought a surge of energy to the Warriors' performance. Moody, in particular, stood out with 11 points, three steals, one block, and three rebounds in just 12 first-half minutes. This showing from the second unit helped the Warriors stage a 14-4 run to tie the game at 28-28 by the end of the first quarter.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson found their rhythm in the third quarter, both connecting on two 3-pointers to kickstart the second half. However, Curry got into foul trouble, leading to Paul's return to the second unit. Paul's leadership and scoring played a crucial role in helping the Warriors take the lead, with fans at the Chase Center chanting "CP3."

(Guard Stephen Curry steps back for a 3 point attempt)

The Warriors made a remarkable comeback, outscoring the Suns 40-19 in the third quarter to take a six-point lead into the final period. However, foul trouble haunted the Warriors, especially Curry, who picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter. This forced Paul back into the game to help even the score. Although Curry and the starters returned to the game with just over five minutes remaining, it was ultimately the Suns who secured a narrow 108-104 victory.

Devin Booker was the standout player of the night, scoring a go-ahead layup with 4:51 remaining in the game, followed by a crucial 3-pointer to finish with 32 points. For the Warriors, Curry led the charge with 27 points, while former Warrior Kevin Durant contributed 18 points in his return to the Bay Area since leaving in 2019.

The Warriors made very lackluster plays in the final minutes, committing 4 crucial turnovers. The team looked better with ball handling for most of the game, showing impressive communication, but this all fell apart in the final minutes. While the Warriors couldn't secure a win in their season opener, there were moments of brilliance from their players, suggesting that this season could hold great promise.

The Warriors will need to address their foul trouble issues and fine-tune their rotations to maximize their chances of success. With standout players like Curry and Thompson, alongside the promising contributions of the second unit, the Warriors have the potential to make a significant impact in the 2023-2024 NBA season. The Warriors will play in Sacramento on Friday, and hope to bounce back from this disappointing loss.

(Suns players walk to the bench after a crucial score late in the game)