Suns 108-104 Warriors (25 Oct, 2023) Game Recap،
SAN FRANCISCO — — Kevin Durant greeted many of the people he knew so well during three sensational seasons with the Warriors, then showed off barely his best shooting performance on a night when Golden State fans finally could encourage him all these years later.
He still ruined the home team’s opening night as the Phoenix Suns won the first game between the Pacific Division powers.
“It’s always good to be recognized for the work you do, so it was exciting to see people I haven’t seen in a while, familiar faces,” Durant said. “I feel like the fans here have nothing but love and respect for me as an individual player and as a person. That’s all I can ask for.
Devin Booker scored a layup with 4:51 remaining, followed by a 3-point basket en route to 32 points in a 108-104 Phoenix win Tuesday night in a back-and-forth fashion.
Stephen Curry scored 27 points to former shooting partner Durant’s 18 on a night where the Warriors welcomed KD back for his first game in front of Bay Area fans since leaving after the 2019 NBA Finals.
Curry scored seven straight points early in the third to bring the Warriors within 64-61 at the 8:21 mark and Phoenix called a timeout. Golden State opened the third with a score of 27-5 while the Suns went 2 for 14.
Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 14 rebounds with a driving layup in the final seconds in his Suns debut. Josh Okogie knocked down a baseline 3 with 1:09 left and Eric Gordon connected from long range with 45 seconds left before Curry hit a deep shot.
Booker started and also had eight assists and six rebounds after a questionable entry into the game with left big toe soreness. He made his first three shots and scored eight of the Suns’ initial 13 points.
Durant was greeted with warm applause from fans in their first meeting since leading the Warriors to two championships with two NBA Finals MVP awards and three consecutive Finals berths from 2017 to 2019 .
The Warriors played video highlights on the big screen during pregame presentations. Durant patted his heart and raised his arm in the air to acknowledge love, then shot 7 of 22 with 10 rebounds.
“Lots of good moments in the video. We were able to relive some of those memories very quickly,” Durant said. “But it was good to come here and start the season well with a W.”
Durant played at Chase Center in February 2021 with Brooklyn when no fans were allowed in the building due to the pandemic, then was injured last March during the Suns’ last visit.
Chris Paul contributed 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds in his Warriors debut against his last team. Golden State acquired him on draft night from the Wizards – he never played in Washington – for Jordan Poole.
Paul missed his first six shots and six 3-point attempts, but had three assists early in the game.
“He’s a rhythm player, so he’s really good at getting you the ball where you want it,” guard Moses Moody said.
ADVICE
Suns: G Bradley Beal missed the game with a lower back strain, but first-year coach Frank Vogel is optimistic he will play Thursday at the Lakers. “He’s trying to relax his back and he’s just not ready yet,” Vogel said. … Phoenix had lost 18 of the previous 22 on Golden State’s home court.
Warriors: The Warriors have lost just five of their last 12 home openers and are 44-34 in their first home game of the season. … F Draymond Green, out all preseason with a sprained left ankle, missed the season opener for the second time in his career after a sore foot kept him from participating in the 2020-21 season delayed by the pandemic.
THE RETURN OF THE PASTOR
Longtime Warriors and 49ers team chaplain Earl Smith returned to the arena after missing the end of last season following an accident during All-Star weekend in Utah when an Uber driver started leaving with only one leg in the vehicle.
FOLLOWING
Suns: Visit the Lakers on Thursday night after losing the last two road meetings.
Warriors: At Sacramento Friday night in a first-round playoff rematch won by Golden State in Game 7.
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