Eric Paschall’s 25 points carried the injury-hampered Warriors to an 18-point comeback victory against the Phoenix Suns.
The Golden State Warriors’ day did not start as planned. The Warriors announced Stephen Curry’s return would be moved back from his original target date of March 1. The news around Curry’s injury followed Golden State ruling out a trio of players against the Phoenix Suns.
Yet, the shorthanded Warriors pulled off one of their best wins of the season in Phoenix with a 115-99 comeback victory.
Without Draymond Green, Jordan Poole and Ky Bowman, the Warriors only had eight healthy players and no true point guard against the Suns. Golden State started the game in Phoenix falling down 18 points in the first half. However, the second half was a different story.
The Warriors roared back to outscore the Suns 31-16 in the third quarter. Golden State completely erased the 18 point deficit to take the lead going into the final period.
Rookie Eric Paschall carried Golden State’s comeback, scoring 25 points in 33 minutes off the bench. The Villanova product was Steve Kerr’s primary scoring option on offense, with Damion Lee finding him as the lead ball-handler. Lee dished out a career-high eight assists while scoring 20 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Seven of Golden State’s eight-man rotation scored in double figures to snap the Warriors eight-game losing streak.
The Turnover Battle
Although the Warriors had a limited rotation, the point-guardless team protected the rock. Golden State only turned the ball over 10 times, while their opponent nearly doubled that number with 19 turnovers.
Phoenix All-Star Devin Booker scored 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting, but turned the ball over six times. The Suns’ backcourt of Ricky Rubio and Booker combined to turn the ball over more than the entire Warriors team with 11.
Every starter for the Warriors recorded a steal against the Suns, with Marquese Chriss and Andrew Wiggins each swiping three steals.
Mychal Mulder
Paschall and Lee will make headlines, but 10-day contract player Mychal Mulder was a crucial factor in Golden State’s comeback victory. Mulder scored his first NBA points in 14 points on 3-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. The Kentucky product’s long-range shooting came at a much needed time for Warriors who have been struggling from 3-point land.
Mulder racked up 34 minutes in the second game of his 10-day contract. His play against the Suns should earn him more time on the court through the remainder of his time in Golden State.
Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney‘s 2019-20 season has been defined by injury, yet against the Suns, the Golden State center looked like his old self. Looney scored in double-figures for the second time this season with 10 points while grabbing six rebounds.
Before the game, Steve Kerr said the former high school point guard, could get some time point guard for the Warriors. Looney dished out three assists against the Suns, tied for his season-high.
