Warriors today: Trip continues at Phoenix

Stephen Curry With Deep Three | Warriors vs Pelicans | October 28, 2016 | 2016-17 NBA Season

Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV: CSN Bay Area.

Records: Warriors 1-1, Suns 0-2.

Last seasons series: The Warriors won the season series 4-0. On Nov. 27 at Phoenix, Draymond Green had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and the Warriors went 22 of 38 (57.6 percent) from 3-point range in a 135-116 triumph. Stephen Curry scored 41 points, making 9 of 16 on 3-pointers, before sitting out the fourth quarter. On Dec. 16 in the game after their 24-0 start was ended, the Warriors routed the Suns 128-103 at Oracle Arena as Klay Thompson scored 43 points in three quarters, including 27 during the Warriors 46-point third quarter. Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. On Feb. 10 at Phoenix, the Warriors defeated the Suns 112-104 as Curry had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists before sitting out the fourth quarter. On March 12 at Oracle, the Warriors defeated the Suns 123-116 as Curry scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and Golden State outscored Phoenix 37-21 in the period. Marreese Speights had a season-high 25 points in 18 minutes off the bench.

Warriors update: The Warriors won for the first time this season, beating New Orleans on the road 122-114 on Friday night. That ended a four-game losing streak stretching back to the 2016 NBA Finals. The Warriors are still a work in progress, and the progress has been slow.Coach Steve Kerr is still testing various lineup combinations. The trio of Kevin Durant, Curry and Thompson combined for 81 points against the Pelicans. But the Warriors offense hasnt approached the efficiency with which were accustomed to seeing. Its not just a matter of adjusting to the addition of Durant. Swapping in Zaza Pachulia for Andrew Bogut has changed the dynamic, too. Patrick McCaw suffered a sprained left ankle against the Pelicans and his status for Phoenix is uncertain.

Suns update: Young guard Devin Booker is a star in the making. As a rookie last season, he averaged 13.8 points and improved throughout the season. In 51 games as a starter, he averaged 17.4 points and in 28 games after the All-Star break he averaged 19.2. And did we mention that hes young? He turns 20 on Sunday. Eric Bledsoe missed the final 50 games last season after knee surgery. He is the last man left from the point guard trio employed by former coach Jeff Hornacek (Goran Dragic, now with Miami, and and Isaiah Thomas, now with Boston, were the others). The Suns fell to 0-2 after losing to Oklahoma City in overtime Friday night, 113-110 as the Thunders Russell Westbrook had 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The Suns got a career-high 30 points from third-year forward T.J. Warren, who missed the last 34 games last season because of foot surgery. The Warriors will see old friend Leandro Barbosa, who signed with the Suns during the offseason.

Things to watch:The Warriors rebounding improved against New Orleans, but it had to after that opening night performance against San Antonio, right? Its still an area that needs work. If we start seeing the player movement and ball movement that was the Warriors hallmark the past two seasons, well know theyre on the right track. The Suns will be a better defensive test for the Warriors than the Pelicans. New Orleans had Anthony Davis (45 points), but Phoenix will present multiple offensive threats.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/30/warriors-today-trip-continues-at-phoenix-suns/