Golden State’s Stephen Curry reflected on the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday and highlighted the team’s struggles in close games.
“The biggest problem is in these late games, we’re just collectively not doing enough to win… there were times when you either have momentum and you can’t extend the lead,” Curry said.
Curry cited turnovers and defensive mistakes as critical factors. “Same story. Turnovers, offensive rebounds… especially on the road it’s hard to… give teams momentum. You give them belief, they start hitting shots, books start appearing after broken plays,” he explained.
Despite Golden State falling behind by 14 points, Curry emphasized the team’s resilience. “The fact that we’re giving ourselves a chance in the fight is positive… but then you leave it to a goal here, a miss here, a foul and offensive rebound, one free throw,” he said.
Curry also shared a lighter moment, discussing his choice of sneakers for the game. “Obviously I paid tribute, paid tribute… I gotta try him out tonight… me and Book… there’s a bond there… I tried to beat him in his own shoes. That didn’t work,” he joked, referring to Devin Booker.
On the chaotic final possessions, Curry described the pressure-filled ending. “It was wild back and forth…Jimmy hits a big three…Book comes out and hits a hard shot…On the last possession we got a great stop. Only the ball bounced hard and we made a mistake,” he said.
Curry reflected on the broader implications for the Warriors’ season. “We’re clearly not a good team right now because what our record says… feeling this pain now and searching a little bit can be a good thing if we do something about it,” he noted, emphasizing the urgency to improve during periods when momentum swings away.
In the game, Devin Booker scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half and Phoenix recovered from a 14-point deficit, while Dillon Brooks added 24 points despite a late flagrant foul. Jordan Goodwin made the decisive free throw with 0.4 seconds left.
Golden State scored 20 goals, shooting 35-89 overall and 12-42 from three-point range. Phoenix converted 36-88 from the field and 10-35 from beyond the arc, outscoring the Warriors 24-18 in the crucial third quarter to secure the win.
The loss drops Golden State to 13-15, while Phoenix improves to 15-12. Both teams meet again on Saturday in San Francisco to complete the home-and-home series.
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