Golden State-Phoenix Playoff Series Will Be NBA Appointment Viewing
The Golden State Warriors’ final regular-season game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday left fans of the high-level rivalry wanting more.
A playoff matchup between the Warriors and Suns is almost too tempting to consider. They are two of the four most-paid NBA teams, designed to compete at the greatest level. The star power, mixed with the smoldering hatred, might make for compelling watching.
Warriors player Stephen Curry hit a 30-foot 3-pointer from the right wing with 0.7 seconds left to conclude a 30-point game, giving the Warriors a 113-112 victory and preventing the Suns from sweeping the four-game season series.
Curry’s brilliance (he also had nine rebounds and six assists) was nearly equaled by Suns guard Devin Booker, who had 32 points, four rebounds, and six assists.
As interesting as Curry and Booker’s fourth-quarter back-and-forth, the contest between Warriors forward Draymond Green and Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was equally engaging and aggressive.
The clubs clashed for the first time since Green hit Nurkic in the face in the second quarter of the Suns’ 119-116 victory on December 12. The NBA suspended Green indefinitely the following day (he missed 15 games), and he was obliged to consult with a counselor and league officials throughout. Green was banished five games in November after putting Minnesota center Rudy Gobert in a headlock.
“That brother needs help,” Nurkic stated after the Dec. 12 game, using the Gobert incident as a backdrop.
This led to the teams’ final regular-season match. Because the Warriors used a small lineup on Saturday, Green (6-6) was matched up against Nurkic (7-0) on both sides of the court for much of their time together. It animated both.
