The Golden State Warriors overcame an 11-point deficit and Draymond Green’s third-quarter ejection to defeat the Phoenix Suns 116-113, securing their first five-game win streak since April 2025. Stephen Curry scored 34 points, including 25 in the second half, as the team rallied in Green’s absence to complete a hard-fought comeback.
Chasing the Suns in a Lethargic First Half
San Francisco opened the night looking sluggish, spending the first 26 minutes in futile pursuit of a Phoenix team that arrived well-rested. While the Warriors played the tail end of a back-to-back, the Suns had enjoyed a couple of days off. That rest showed immediately as Phoenix dismantled Golden State’s defense in the opening quarter. The visitors shot 60 percent from the field, pouring in 31 points and building a lead that stretched as large as 17 points.
Most of the Warriors roster labored through a back-to-back, leaving Curry and the coaching staff searching for a spark. Phoenix, holding a 1-3 record coming into the matchup, played with the desperation of a squad eager to right its early-season trajectory.
The Ejection That Galvanized Golden State
Green aggressively retaliated against a shove from Phoenix center Khaman Maluach, prompting combative Suns forward Dillon Brooks to charge in for a brief physical confrontation and mutual jersey grabbing. Officials assessed Green his second technical foul of the night after a review, triggering an automatic disqualification.
“He lit a fire in all of us and we had to respond,” Stephen Curry said. “I’m glad we did. It was a combination of that moment and having our brother’s back when he defends us. But it was also understanding this is one of those games where most of our guys were on a back-to-back.”
Trailing by 11 at the time of the dismissal, Golden State responded with 22 minutes of grit, determination, and suffocating defense. The team immediately ignited on a 16-5 run, erasing the deficit entirely when Curry hit a midrange jumper to tie the score at 73-73 with 6:47 left in the third.
Defensive Lockdown Without the Anchor
Once Green departed, the Suns struggled with their shooting against a revitalized Golden State rotation.
Phoenix converted just 43.2 percent of its field goals and sputtered to a 26.7 percent mark from beyond the arc after Green was banished. Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the bizarre nature of the turnaround.
For all that Draymond Green has done, and still does, for the Warriors, they did not come together Monday night until after he came apart (via @MontePooleNBCS) https://t.co/nIXxerBe1b
“It’s rare when that happens,” Kerr said. “But I think it was more just about us catching up to the energy that Phoenix was showing that whole first half. We got engaged; the game was tight the whole second half and our guys summoned the energy necessary to win a game on a back-to-back.”
Curry poured in 25 of his 34 total points in the second half, as the Warriors outscored the Suns 59-45 in Green’s absence. Brandin Podziemski stepped up with 20 points, scoring 11 of them during the post-Draymond surge.
Bassey Illuminates the Center Rotation
Beyond Curry’s scoring outburst, backup center Charles Bassey delivered a performance that filled in wonderfully for Green. Bouncing across five NBA teams in six years, the 26-year-old big man provided vital production on both ends of the floor.
Bassey logged 10 points and six rebounds through efficient interior play, ultimately finishing the night with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds across 23 minutes of action. His active paint presence and soft shooting touch offered a stark contrast to Green’s line of four points, four rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes.
The emergence of Bassey gives Kerr options in the center rotation as the team copes with the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. Between Green, Bassey, and rookie Graham Ike, the Warriors possess varied frontcourt attributes.
Righting the Ship After a Stumbling Start
The 116-113 victory marks Golden State’s first five-game winning streak since April 2025, following three straight losses to open the season. Road victories in Denver and Minnesota helped right the ship.
Kerr noted the challenge ahead, emphasizing that the team turned an initial stumble into a good start.
