The Warriors had to sweat this one out, but they still walked away with their fifth straight win.
Golden State held off Phoenix 116-113 on Monday at Chase Center, and Collin Gillespie’s last-gasp attempt to tie it from deep was way off at the buzzer. Stephen Curry carried the scoring load with 34 points, while Devin Booker led the Suns with 24 before fouling out on an offensive foul against De’Anthony Melton with 57.6 seconds left. Draymond Green also got tossed in the third quarter after drawing two technicals in the same sequence.
The biggest development for Golden State may have come from Charles Bassey, who turned in the best game of his NBA career. In 23 minutes, he put up 19 points and eight rebounds, and the Warriors leaned on him heavily with Al Horford resting and Green gone. He answered the call.
That performance should buy Bassey more minutes going forward, but it doesn’t solve the Warriors’ bigger issue at center. The ideal setup would be Bassey as a reserve big who brings energy in bursts, especially if Golden State can land a starting-caliber center like Myles Turner.
Until a move like that happens, the Warriors are still forced to use Green and Horford at center, even though both are undersized for the job. The report also notes that a trade could likely involve Kristaps Porzingis’ $20 million salary as a money-matcher.
For now, Bassey gives the Warriors their best option when they need a more traditional center presence - the kind that shows up in paint scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking. The downside is still there, too: he can be targeted when he has to defend in space or make decisions with the ball near the three-point line.
Golden State’s depth was already thin without Gui Santos, Brandon Williams and Horford, and Green’s ejection made the rotation even tighter. The Warriors needed help beyond Curry, Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg, and they got it from Niang.
He scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, added four rebounds and three assists, and didn’t turn the ball over. His plus-20 was second-best on the team behind Curry’s plus-21.
In all, Curry, Podz, Lendeborg, Bassey and Niang accounted for 102 of Golden State’s 116 points.
Curry remains the one constant, while Podz, Lendeborg and Green, when available, are the likeliest players to close games. Kerr can also lean on Santos for more size on the wing in certain matchups - the Santos-Lendeborg forward pairing has been strong - but Monday was a night for a three-guard look with Curry, Melton and Podz.
Melton’s stat line wasn’t pretty. He finished with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
But he made two huge defensive plays late, first by using his length to pick off Jalen Green’s kick-out pass intended for Dillon Brooks with 1:37 left, then by pressuring Booker into the offensive foul that ended Phoenix’s hopes. Kerr stuck with him in crunch time, and Melton helped the Warriors survive a tight, physical finish.
In Other News...
Warriors Fans Are Split Over An Awkward Valkyries Tribute Moment
The Valkyries championship run gave the Bay Area a new title to celebrate, and the Golden State Warriors made sure to spotlight it the next day at Chase Center. During a timeout, the team held a recognition ceremony for the WNBA champions, who had just capped their season with a Game 7 win over the Atlanta Dream and became the fastest expansion team to win a championship in American major sports leagues. Gabby Williams, who scored 30 points in the clincher, was named MVP.
The presentation was meant to be a feel-good moment for the home crowd, with the trophy brought out for fans to see, but the reaction in the building was not as seamless as the organization probably hoped. The mixed response underscored how tricky these crossover celebrations can be, even when the accomplishment is a historic one for the same market. For a Warriors fan base used to big-stage basketball, the tribute became its own talking point almost as much as the title itself. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Fans Had An Awkward Reaction To Golden States Latest Title Celebration
The Valkyries championship run gave the Bay Area another banner-worthy moment to celebrate, and the Warriors made sure to mark it the next day at Chase Center. Golden State hosted a recognition ceremony during its game against the Clippers, with the WNBA club bringing out its trophy in front of the crowd after becoming the fastest expansion team to win a title in American major sports leagues.
Gabby Williams, who earned Finals MVP honors after a 30-point effort in Game 7 against the Atlanta Dream, stood at the center of the celebration as the franchise soaked in the moment. But the atmosphere carried an awkward edge from some Warriors fans, turning what should have been a straightforward salute into a scene that said as much about the mood in the building as it did about the championship itself. [Read more 🡒]
Draymond Green Put Warriors In A Brutal Spot Against Phoenix
Draymond Greens night against Phoenix turned into a familiar kind of Warriors headache in a hurry. In the third quarter, Green was ejected after picking up two technical fouls tied to physical exchanges with Suns players Khaman Maluach and Dillon Brooks, leaving Golden State to regroup in the middle of a game it was trying to keep within reach.
Before he was sent off, Green had put together a modest line with four points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal, but his exit came at a costly moment. The Warriors were already trailing 71-62 when he left, and from there the challenge only got steeper for a team that needed his presence on both ends to steady things. [Read more 🡒]