The Suns exit in 4th, now 1-4 without Booker after the loss at Golden State

SAN FRANCISCO – The undermanned Phoenix Suns fell short in a 109-105 loss to Golden State on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center.

Phoenix (15-16) took a 27-18 lead in the fourth period and didn’t have another field goal after Josh Okogie’s three-pointer with 6:39 left gave it a 100-91 lead.

The Suns missed their last nine field throws and ultimately lost 18-5.

The Suns now have a 1-5 record in their last six games, falling below .500 for the first time since Christmas last season, when they fell to 14-15 after a home loss to Dallas that holiday.

Kevin Durant scored a team-high 31 points and recorded four blocks on Saturday, but committed eight turnovers in a game, three of them in the final six minutes of the game.

Bradley Beal scored 28 points after scoring just 11 on 5 of 18 shooting in Friday’s loss at Dallas, but Andrew Wiggins blocked his 3 with 4:10 remaining and Phoenix led 100-97.

Then, with Phoenix down by three points with 12.1 seconds left, Beal went for a two-pointer and missed with 6.4 seconds left. Jonathan Kuminga was fouled after grabbing the rebound and draining two free throws in a span of 3.9 seconds, sealing the win for the Warriors (16-15), who were on a three-game losing streak.

Kuminga scored a game-high 34 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

Here are takeaways from Saturday’s game as both teams played back-to-back in the second round.

Injuries are again a factor

Phoenix again entered the game without Devin Booker (left groin strain), Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) and Bol Bol (left knee contusion).

The Suns are hoping the two days between Saturday’s game and their New Year’s Eve game against Memphis at the Footprint Center will help them get those three back.

The NBA sentenced Jusuf Nurkic to three games without pay for his involvement in an “on-court altercation” with Dallas Mavericks forwards Naji Marshall and PJ Washington in Friday’s home loss. The 7-footer’s suspension began Saturday.

Now Phoenix could miss another key player for multiple games. Royce O’Neale sprained his left ankle after blocking Dennis Schroder’s layup in transition with 40.7 seconds left in the first half on Saturday and did not return.

He left the arena wearing a walking boot.

Not good. Not good at all.

Fourth quarter disaster

Yes, they definitely miss Booker.

The Suns are 1-4 in their last five games without him. His presence alone gives something to everyone else, including Durant and Beal. more space, and he can carry the offense over long distances.

But even with him, Allen, Nurkic and O’Neale out, the Suns shouldn’t go 4 of 19 from the field in the fourth quarter and miss 1 of 11 from 3, even if Golden State played good defense.

Crazy.

Three short points:

First, the Suns need to find a way for Durant to finish plays instead of having to initiate an offense. Again, just because he can take over the game doesn’t mean it has to be unconventional.

However, Jones drained a 3, Phoenix drained one and Durant was open on the sideline. Now Jones was open. The Suns want him to be aggressive, but in this moment the extra pass to an open Durant looks even better because he wouldn’t have to work for it.

Second, Mason Plumlee needs to be a threat inside, but he consistently kicks the ball out of bounds for 3 seconds even when he’s in position to score. The Warriors began playing him for the pass, earning at least one if not both of Plumlee’s turnovers.

Yes, they want to make 3s, but they only shot 9 of 35. Additionally, it is missing easier twos that can lead to fouls and three-point plays.

Third, the 14 turnovers led to 20 Golden State points.

Durant knows he needs to be better in this area. He just finished the Christmas win over Denver with zero turnovers and had just one Friday against Dallas after suffering eight turnovers in the terrible loss to Detroit.

It’s not all up to him, but he’s the closer one. Durant could use a co-star in that department and a dagger man to really get teams to double and triple up on him.

Booker and Beal are the leading candidates for co-star, but who will be the guy to throw the crucial shots down the stretch?

No need to panic, but…

The Suns are 31 games into the season and are under .500. We still haven’t reached the halfway point of the season.

That’s good news.

They are just three games away from the fifth-place Los Angeles Lakers and the sixth-place Los Angeles Clippers.

Additionally, Booker and Allen appear to be on the verge of returning.

That’s even better news.

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The Suns exit in 4th, now 1-4 without Booker after the loss at Golden State

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