Goran Dragic’s performance tonight gave the fans a clearer image as to why he should be an All-Star. He scored 13 of his career-high 34 points in the final seven minutes and the Phoenix Suns beat a short-handed Golden State team 122-109 on Saturday night.
Gerald Green was on another level all game; he added 25 points and P.J. Tucker scored 16 points to go along with a career-high 15 rebounds.
The Suns had an offensive explosion from many of their players. Along with his hot scoring touch, Dragic, had 10 assists in the win placing the Suns at 30-20 on the year.
The Warriors fought hard given their depleted state; David Lee and Andrew Bogut sat out due to injury tonight.
Stephen Curry had 28 points and nine assists. Harrison Barnes finally had an offensive night worth crediting. The second-year forward posted his second highest scoring effort of the season with 23 points on an ultra-efficient 60 percent shooting.
Although Jermaine O’Neal’s tip-in with 7:55 remaining brought the Warriors within two points, it was all about Dragic and the Suns. In the midst of an 11-2 run, Dragic drilled two three-pointers that gave Phoenix control of the game. The run was stamped and given the P.J. Tucker seal of approval with under four minutes to play.
Witnessing Dragic and Curry, two of the league’s best point guards, battle it out all game was truly an attention-grasping experience. They were the orchestrators of the high-scoring affair.
Bogut and Lee’s absence is a evident hole in the Warriors’ game plan, they were out-rebounded 26-15 in the first half and 45-34 for the game.
Credit Mark Jackson’s club for staying the game for the majority of the night. They showed that they can stick around with the tougher teams with or without some of their key players.
The Warriors will look to get back to their winnings ways against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, Feb. 10th.