Preview: Warriors battle Kevin Durant’s Suns in Chase Center
Two struggling Pacific Division squads battle to stay out of the cellar.
The Golden State Warriors are on a two-game skid to Pacific Division rivals, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day and then faltering to the L.A. Clippers two days later. It’s never good to lose games in the division with playoff seeding to be considered, but the Dubs have an opportunity right the ship in a battle with another Pacific team in the Phoenix Suns today.
Both teams are fighting in the standings to stay above water, so this game is pretty crucial to their plans to build good habits and good mojo as the calendar turns away from 2024.
Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns
When: December 28th, 2024 | 5:30 PM PT
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: 95.7 The Game
The Warriors started off the season super hot, and have suddenly fell into a deep winter slumber.
The Golden State Warriors started the season 12-3.
— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) December 28, 2024
They are now 15-15. pic.twitter.com/nQhvkrsUIc
Warriors’ West Seeding:
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) December 28, 2024
Nov 24: 1st seed
Nov 25: 2nd seed
Nov 27: 3rd seed
Nov 30: 4th seed
Dec 4: 5th seed
Dec 15: 6th seed
Dec 21: 7th seed
Dec 23: 8th seed
Dec 27: 11th seed
Tears.
This team is exasperating. Just clutch enough to make it sting over and over again. They’re a play-in team at best, as currently constructed. And if they view themselves any differently, they’re delusional.
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) December 26, 2024
Part of the reason this team hasn’t figured it out is because they’re trying to develop players on the fly around franchise cornerstones Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Another part of the reason is that Curry and Green are reaching the back end of their careers and can’t dominate every single night like they did during their primes. They missed yesterday’s contest, a loss to the Clippers.
Curry should be returning today, but Green is questionable per Anthony Slater.
Draymond Green and Moses Moody are questionable vs the Suns tonight. Steph Curry is cleared. Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic are out for Phoenix. Nurkic is serving a suspension.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 28, 2024
Meanwhile the Phoenix Suns have their own problems to suss out. On paper they have the superior roster: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal are as good of a trio statistically as you could ask for in team building.
Unfortunately for them, it hasn’t manifested in on-court success. They’ve been struggling just like the Dubs in fact!
Warriors have lost 12 of 15
— RB (@RyB_311) December 28, 2024
Suns have lost 14 of 21
The official who got it worse bowl is tomorrow pic.twitter.com/WLJJM5tCw5
No NBA team has started a season 12-3 or better and proceeded to finish the same season at .500 or worse.
— Alex Simon (@AlexSimonSports) December 28, 2024
The Warriors are about to fall from 12-3 to .500 ... through 30 games.
(Via @stathead, h/t @Wittnessed)https://t.co/kCP8ML5oYL
Also unfortunately for them, their center Jusuf Nurkic is going to be suspended after a scuffle in their last contest with the Dallas Mavericks. Who knew it wasn’t just Draymond who was beefing with Nurk on the court?
Jusuf Nurkic, Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington were all ejected after this scuffle in Mavs-Suns. pic.twitter.com/A3Gk7eBYlI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 28, 2024
This game is going to be another depressing night for one team and a triumphant return to form the other. At least for one night!