The sting of the Warriors’ late collapse to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night cut deeper knowing how short-handed they could be the next night in Phoenix against the Suns in their first of 15 back-to-backs this season.
Steph Curry didn’t suit up Saturday night. Neither did Draymond Green, Al Horford and Brandin Podziemski, among the other usuals for the Warriors. Their backs were against the wall, and the Warriors didn’t lack in fight. They did lack in experienced talent, though.
Devin Booker torched the Warriors for 43 points as they fell to the Suns 131-122 at Mortgage Matchup Center. He was the Suns’ only player to score 20 points in a game where the Warriors had three of them, and it didn’t matter.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 26 points for his first 20-point game of his young NBA career. Lendeborg also had nine rebounds and five assists. De’Anthony Melton (25 points) and Brandon Williams (20 points) also reached the mark.
Golden State’s defense in the first three games of the season has been a stroll in the park for its opponents. The Suns shot 58.1...