Three keys to Warriors defeating Suns in win-or-go-home NBA play-in game

PHOENIX – Passing their first test, the Warriors’ season again comes down to one game. But this time, a win gets them into the NBA playoffs for a first-round series against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.The Warriors’ epic comeback road win Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA play-in tournament pushed them to Phoenix, where they will face the Suns on Friday night. The winner moves on, and the loser starts their offseason early. Unlike their regular-season struggles against the Clippers, the Warriors didn’t have many problems with the Suns. They went 3-1, and their only loss to them was by one point on a controversial foul call that gave the Suns free throws with 0.4 seconds left. But as the Warriors preached before their first game in the play-in tournament, the past is the past in single elimination.How the Warriors beat the Clippers brought back memories of the good old days, telling everyone their time isn’t up quite yet. That was probably the most excited they’ve been since the last game the Warriors were in Phoenix and celebrated a crazy comeback like a Game 7 win. Two-plus months have passed, and each team is ready for another shot at one another. Here are three keys to the Warriors’ play-in game against the Suns.Let It Fly The 3-point line played a key role in both Western Conference play-in games thus far. The Portland Trail Blazers came back to beat the Suns in a game they had a 24-point advantage from three. Both teams shot 36 percent from three, but it was the Blazers who took 22 more threes than the Suns (47 to 25) and made eight more than them (17 to nine). In LA, the Warriors set a record of 19 threes in a play-in game. The Warriors had five players who made multiple threes, led by Steph Curry’s seven, and the Clippers only had two players make more than one three. Golden State should be able to use the 3-ball to its advantage this game, too. From an accuracy standpoint, the Warriors didn’t light up the 3-point line this season against the Suns. They shot 36.2 percent, yet they also made 18 more threes than the Suns. The Warriors won the 3-point battle in all four games, and the one that was closest happened to be their one-point loss. The Suns’ defense was as good as it gets guarding 3-point shooters this season. Not against the Warriors, though. Let’s see what happens with the playoffs looming.The Other ThreeWarriors coach Steve Kerr kept saying going into Wednesday’s game that he was comfortable playing 10 or 11 guys. He played eight. When you wonder why the Warriors had the secret sauce to overcome the Clippers, remember that five of the eight players Kerr used have won a championship. The other three are Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton. Each contributed against the Clippers, and the Warriors will need that again. Who would have guessed Santos would score 20 points and lead the Warriors as a plus-16? The only playoff game he played real minutes in last season was a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets. The leap Santos has made now has him starting in do-or-die games as a trusted scorer. Podziemski also started against the Clippers. He led the Warriors in rebounds (seven), was second in plus/minus (plus-10) and third in points (17). When the Warriors last played the Suns, they held Podziemski scoreless in 12 minutes off the bench, but that isn’t the player he has been the last month and a half.Between the three, Melton’s numbers jump out the least from last game. He’ll still be equally as needed. Melton’s defense on buckets like Devin Booker and Jalen Green can push the outcome one way or another. Nobody was better than Melton in the Warriors’ celebratory win in their most recent game in Phoenix. Dillon Brooks Vs. Everybody Specifically, Curry, Draymond Green and Kerr. “Steph and Draymond,” Brooks responded Thursday when asked why he wanted to play the Warriors next instead of the Clippers. “That’s it. And Steve Kerr.”Brooks has so much beef with the Warriors that he’s been loathed by them on three different teams. That isn’t easy to do. After taking him down as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies and then the Rockets, the Warriors now get a postseason crack at him on the Suns. It starts with Curry, Green and Kerr, but the Warriors’ feelings on Brooks extend much deeper. It’s not like Gary Payton II will ever forget the dirty play by Brooks that broke his elbow in the 2022 playoffs. Brooks has a reputation and he doesn’t shy away from it. The Warriors will protect Curry from Brooks’ physical shenanigans, and Green will be right in the middle of the action. Don’t look away. Some kind of chicanery is coming to the desert. It’s up to the Warriors to let the head games fuel them into keeping their season alive.Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Three keys to Warriors defeating Suns in win-or-go-home NBA play-in game

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