Darryl Webb/Associated Press
Darryl Webb/Associated Press
PHOENIX – Stephen Curry needed 4 minutes, 41 seconds Tuesday to eclipse his scoring output from Sunday.
The Golden State Warriors needed 12 minutes to do away with the Phoenix Suns.
Two days after scoring three in a 10-point loss to the Houston Rockets, Curry scored 13 of his team-high 25 points in the first quarter of a 133-95 beatdown at PHX Arena. The Warriors led 37-24 after the first 12 minutes, sending the Suns to their seventh straight loss and eliminating them from postseason play.
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Brandin Podziemski added 22 points – eclipsing 20 points for the fourth time in his past six games – and five rebounds and Gui Santos had a career-high nine rebounds for Golden State.
Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) didn’t play for the Suns, who got 21 points from Devin Booker during another uninspired effort in which they trailed 69-43 at halftime.
The Warriors (47-32) next play Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center. They started Tuesday tied with the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings. The Timberwolves lost Tuesday to the Milwaukee Bucks while the Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets.
The Clippers were playing the San Antonio Spurs. With the win ,Golden State moved into a tie with Denver.
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Against the Suns, Curry (nine rebounds, six assists) converted his first 3-pointer 4:41 into the first quarter, adding a free throw via technical foul to start his 13-point opening frame. Podziemski converted back-to-back triples and added a 12-footer fading away.
Cohesive switching, scrambling defense denied the Suns (35-44) drives and constricted their offense.
Absent big man Quinten Post (illness), Trayce Jackson-Davis centered a second-quarter stretch – twice finishing alley oops from Curry and adding three free throws in seven minutes. Defense turned to offense for Golden State amid 10 first-half turnovers from Phoenix.
The Warriors opened the second half by extending a 25-9 run that began with 1:34 to play in the first half. Curry followed a triple with a layup that Moses Moody followed with a driving dunk. Jimmy Butler made a jumper and a dunk, stretching Golden State’s lead to 34.
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A 95-61 lead after three quarters allowed its starters to watch the fourth. The Warriors are 22-6 with Butler, getting 13 points and eight rebounds from Jackson-Davis and winning the glass 57-41
Phoenix had 19 turnovers for 26 points.
Reach Sam Gordon: [email protected]
