Or prevent the three-game losing streak against the Phoenix Suns from continuing.

The Warriors welcomed the star guard back to the roster on Saturday – he missed Wednesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder because of knee soreness – and he scored 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes in a 113-105 road loss to the Suns .

The Warriors have lost four straight games after winning 12 of their first 15.

Guard Devin Booker scored a game-high 27 for the Suns, who got 21 points and 10 rebounds from winger Kevin Durant.

Curry and the Warriors had played four games in six days before Wednesday’s loss, which required a 16th-place finish^Th-year guard a spot on the sideline against Oklahoma City. He returned to Golden State’s starting lineup on Saturday alongside Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The Warriors had never used this lineup before and used nine other starting units this season. Pairing Podziemski and Curry in the backcourt gives the Warriors another ball handler who can knock him off the ball.

But Curry missed his first five shots and Golden State couldn’t contain Phoenix’s drive-and-kick offense, leading to a 66-49 halftime deficit on 14 of 21 3-point shots for the Suns.

Durant and Booker drew multiple defenders and forced rotations that would beat the Suns with quick ball movement as Golden State shot 38.1% in the first half.

But Curry would hit three third-quarter triples en route to 15 third-quarter points. Kevon Looney replaced Jackson-Davis at center and the Warriors held the Suns (11-8) to 6 of 21 shooting in the third quarter.

An 85-78 deficit early in the fourth quarter became 87-78 after a foul count led to two free throws and the nine-point deficit was too big to overcome.

Golden State’s offense in the fourth quarter – rated 30^Th Offensively in the last three games with 80.8 points per 100 possessions – slowed down again, scoring eight points in the first 7:18.

Bradley Beal (left calf injury) and Jusuf Nurkic (right quad contusion) did not play for Phoenix.

Reach Sam Gordon: [email protected]