With winning streaks on the line paired with the top two teams in the Western Conference, buzz was looming around the first clash between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The pair of teams lived up to the hype.
During a back and forth battle with the Suns, Steph Curry uncharacteristically struggled on Tuesday night in the desert. The early-season Most Valuable Player candidate tallied a season-low 12 points on a cold 4-of-21 shooting from the field. Curry added three boards and two assists in 35 minutes.
With Curry having an off night, Jordan Poole took over for Golden State. The third-year guard recorded a game-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 35 minutes. Poole heated up from long distance, drilling six triples on 12 attempts from beyond the arc.
Despite Poole’s performance, it wasn’t enough to slow down the red-hot Suns. Behind a fierce defensive effort, the Suns took over in the fourth quarter on their way to a 104-96 victory.
With a win over the Warriors, the Suns matched a franchise record with 17 consecutive victories. Phoniex and Golden State now sit at the top of the Western Conference with the same record of 18-3.
The Warriors will have a chance for revenge on Friday when the Suns travel to San Francisco for a rematch at Chase Center.
After the Suns extended their league-best winning streak to 17 games with a win over the Warriors, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with different reactions. Below is a look at what fans and analysts were saying about Tuesday night’s potential playoff preview.