The Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, two Western Conference contenders in the early stages of a difficult recovery, are set to face off in Phoenix this Saturday. Both teams enter the matchup winless, with each searching for a reset after what their respective leaders described as games where “everything went wrong.”
For Golden State, the frustrations are fresh following a late-game meltdown against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. The Warriors appeared to have their home opener under control, holding a 106-94 lead with just 3:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Grizzlies responded with a relentless 17-point scoring run to close out the game, leaving Golden State with a 111-108 loss. The defeat dropped the Warriors to an 0-2 start for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Stephen Curry, who scored 24 points in the loss to Memphis, has yet to find his signature shooting rhythm. Across the first two games of the season—including a 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday—Curry is shooting 12-of-30 from the field and 5-of-17 from three-point range. To manage the rotation and compensate for the ongoing absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who is sidelined with an undisclosed health issue, coach Steve Kerr has implemented a new substitution pattern for Curry. Kerr noted that Curry will now play roughly the first seven or eight minutes of the first quarter before returning early in the second, though the coach emphasized that the plan remains flexible.
While the Warriors are dealing with a late-game collapse, the Phoenix Suns are attempting to move past a season opener that was over almost as soon as it began. On Wednesday, the Suns were overwhelmed in Portland, allowing the Trail Blazers to score the first 21 points of the game. Phoenix eventually trailed by as many as 52 points in a 124-83 blowout. Suns coach Jordan Ott was blunt in his assessment, stating that his team was “absolutely blitzed” from the opening tip.
The Suns struggled across the board in Portland, shooting just 35.7% from the field and getting outrebounded 56-39. Devin Booker led the team with 23 points, but the supporting cast faced significant hurdles. Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and newcomer Miles Bridges combined for just 11-of-34 from the floor. Booker echoed Curry’s sentiment regarding the poor start, noting that the team has a lot to learn from the game tape after Portland’s pace disrupted their rhythm entirely.
Frontcourt depth remains a concern for Phoenix as they prepare for the Warriors. Mark Williams is currently out with a left shoulder injury, leaving the Suns to rely on young talent in the post. Second-year center Khaman Maluach started on Wednesday, and while he only recorded two points and six rebounds, coach Ott stressed the importance of his development. “We need him to grow,” Ott said. “He’ll take steps.” The Suns may be further thinned in the rotation as Oso Ighodaro left the Portland game with a right hip injury and Luke Kennard missed the opener with a knee issue. Their status for Saturday remains uncertain.
Saturday’s contest serves as a rematch of sorts after Phoenix eliminated the Warriors from the play-in round last April with a 111-96 victory. Both squads are now looking to those previous successes and new adjustments—such as the 18-point performances from Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg on Friday—to find a path to the win column.
