Phoenix Suns

The early part of the 2021-22 NBA season has been quiet in terms of trades and player movement. But things have started to heat up in recent days.

In his latest news and notes roundup Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on some rumors floating around the league.

Let's take a look at a few of them.

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Phoenix Suns C Jalen Smith

Phoenix Suns second-year big man Jalen Smith has not seen much playing time during his young career. He's played in just eight games this season and has averaged 3.4 points in 7.1 minutes.

Charania reported that the Suns are receiving interest for the 21-year-old Maryland product, and teams are expecting a move to be made soon.

"Despite declining his third-year option, the Suns have had interest generate in talks to move center Jalen Smith, sources said," Charania wrote. "But interested teams expect a potential move for Smith as the Dec. 15 date—when most offseason signings can be traded—nears."

Phoenix is 21-4 and is hoping to contend for a second straight appearance in the NBA Finals. Smith is still very raw, and it seems like the Suns don't have time to wait for him to develop, making him expendable.

Smith's youth and athleticism could make him intriguing to teams that are rebuilding. He could also be used as part of a larger deal for Phoenix to reel in a bigger star.

Smith hasn't had the opportunity to display the skills that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft. A team that trades for him would be acquiring an unknown commodity and hoping he lives up to his potential.

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San Antonio Spurs G Bryn Forbes

Sixth-year combo guard Bryn Forbes is in his second run with the San Antonio Spurs, but it could be a short stint.

Charania reported that Forbes, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks last season after spending the first four years of his career in San Antonio, is "expected to procure interest from contending teams throughout the league."

Forbes shot 45.2 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 10.0 points last season. He was a key contributor during Milwaukee's run to an NBA title.

The 28-year-old is playing on an expiring contract worth $4.5 million. Forbes' ability to stretch the floor and his championship pedigree make him an attractive player to teams hoping to contend this year.

Forbes has not started a game this season and has averaged 7.2 points in 14.3 minutes while shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range over 25 games. An increased role on a contending team could help him return to the form that saw him average 10 or more points in each of the last three seasons.

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Utah Jazz Targets

At 19-7, the Utah Jazz are among the top contenders in the Western Conference. But the team is looking up at offensive juggernauts in the Phoenix Suns (21-4) and Golden State Warriors (21-5), so Utah is looking for help on defense.

"The Jazz are pursuing a defensive-minded wing on the trade market, sources said," Charania stated.

The Jazz are already one of the best defensive teams in the league, ranking fourth with opponents averaging 104.2 points against them.

With three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert as the team's anchor down low, adding a defensive specialist on the wing could set up the Jazz for the playoff success that has eluded them in recent seasons.

Utah has a deep team with five players who score in double figures, led by Donovan Mitchell's 24.8 points per game.

The Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks "have shown interest in recent years" in potentially acquiring Indiana Pacers star big man Domantas Sabonis, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

Sabonis is "expected to generate strong interest and is among the attractive players who could be available in a trade" ahead of the NBA's Feb. 10 trade deadline, per Charania.

Last week, The Athletic's Charania and Bob Kravitz reported that the Pacers were "moving toward a substantial rebuild and are expected to open up trade conversations around some of their veteran stalwarts."

That meant players like Sabonis, fellow center Myles Turner and Caris LeVert, among others, could be put on the trade block. 

Sabonis will likely be considered the crown jewel of that group. The 25-year-old is averaging 18.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. He's shooting 58.4 percent from the field but only 31 percent from three. 

While Sabonis isn't the modern prototype at center, offering little in the way of floor spacing out to the three-point line or elite rim protection, he's a dominant scorer and rebounder. 

However, it would be somewhat surprising if the Knicks and Suns seriously pursue him.

The Knicks' floor spacing with Sabonis next to Julius Randle would be questionable. While Randle shot 41.1 percent from three last year, he's hitting only 32.6 percent this season, which is much closer to his career average.

Meanwhile, Phoenix already has young star DeAndre Ayton at center. Unless the Suns are willing to move on from Ayton—perhaps they won't be interested in matching a max offer if he receives one this summer as a restricted free agent?—it's hard to see the defending Western Conference champs, who currently sit at 21-4, messing with a good thing when it comes to their roster. 

But there are plenty of teams around the NBA who could benefit from an upgrade at center. It won't be surprising in the least if Sabonis gets moved.

The Phoenix Suns defeated the visiting Boston Celtics 111-90 on Friday at Footprint Center.

Suns center JaVale McGee led the way with 21 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes. He started in place of Deandre Ayton, who sat with a non-COVID illness.

A 25-9 run to end the first half turned Phoenix's small edge into a comfortable 57-39 halftime advantage. The Suns led by as many as 27 points in the second half as both teams went to the benches early.

Boston and Phoenix both entered this game short-handed.

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (right hamstring tightness) remained out. Boston wing Josh Richardson entered the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols earlier Friday and missed the contest.

In addition to Ayton, Suns guard Devin Booker (left hamstring strain) remained out.

The 21-4 Suns have won two straight after the Golden State Warriors broke their 18-game winning streak Dec. 3. They are now tied with the Dubs atop the Western Conference standings. The 13-14 Celtics ended their five-game Western Conference road trip with a 1-4 mark and a three-game losing streak.

       

Notable Performances

Suns C JaVale McGee: 21 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks

Suns PG Chris Paul: 10 points, 12 assists

Suns PG Cameron Payne: 17 points, 5 assists

Celtics F Jayson Tatum: 24 points, 7 rebounds

Celtics G Dennis Schroder: 15 points

    

McGee's Energy, Size Prove to Be Catalysts Toward Suns' Win

The Suns got some bad news Friday when Ayton was ruled out, but Phoenix's depth shined once again.

This time, it was McGee who stole the spotlight. The Celtics simply had no answer for his boundless energy and length, as the veteran big man dominated the paint and created serious problems for Boston on both ends.

The 7-footer had four points, five rebounds and a block in the first six minutes.

Paul found him in the paint with a nice bounce pass that McGee corralled and put home for two:

CP slick with it.@CP3 ➡️ @JaValeMcGee pic.twitter.com/g1LxKdxkuE

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 11, 2021

CP3 found McGee again, this time off a missed shot. For this one, McGee used his tremendous length to reach way back to gather the ball and slam it home:

Pogo stick putback. pic.twitter.com/vVJs3rGwJ2

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 11, 2021

McGee helped the Suns keep pace with the C's early as Tatum splurged for 12 points en route to a 16-15 Boston lead midway through the first.

The three-time NBA champion then put on a show in the second quarter, as the 17.5 percent three-point shooter nailed one from beyond the arc:

👌 JAVALE FROM DEEEEEEP! 👌 pic.twitter.com/mp513UfNm7

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 11, 2021

    

He had seven points, three rebounds and a block in the first four minutes of the second quarter.

Boston was faring well enough on both ends to keep this game competitive.

However, the center's dominance put the Suns in position to dominate in the back half of the second quarter. 

It was more of the same in the second half for McGee, as his connection with Paul continued to cause serious problems.

https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1469535889210716163

Paul ended up finishing with his 13th double-double of the season thanks in part to the McGee connection, which helped the Suns earn a 21-point win despite missing two of their top three players.

    

Celtics Build a Brick House

The Celtics' offensive performance included a 15-point second quarter, a 21-point fourth quarter, a 4-of-26 three-point shooting outing and a 1-of-13 night from Marcus Smart.

The C's made just 37.6 percent of their field goals as they failed to get anything going against the tenacious Suns defense.

When Boston did get good looks, they simply weren't falling.

The worst stretch occurred in the final eight minutes of the second quarter. Dennis Schroder was the only player who made a field goal in that stretch, hitting three shots.

Granted, the Celtics were without Brown and Richardson, but they entered Friday 21st in the NBA in field-goal percentage and 22nd three-point percentage. The Celtics also sported the NBA's No. 17 offensive efficiency rating, per Basketball Reference.

Friday was the fifth time Boston has scored 90 or fewer points in a game this season, with two of the other contests resulting defeats to the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.

Boston was able to get away with poor offensive performances in those games against inferior opponents, but the Suns have looked like clear NBA title contenders through 25 games.

Couple that offensive showcase with a defensive effort symbolic of the team's struggles on that end (119.2 points allowed per game during this road trip), and you have a recipe for disaster. Friday was the Celtics' sixth defeat by 11 or more points this season.

       

What's Next?

Both teams play Monday.

Boston will host the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 p.m. ET in TD Garden. Phoenix will visit the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center at 10:30 p.m.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Boston Celtics with a non-COVID-19-related illness, head coach Monty Williams announced, per Duane Rankin of azcentral.com

Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, is emerging as one of the best young big men in the NBA. Through 18 games this season, he is averaging 16.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 61.4 percent from the floor. 

Ayton was a key contributor during the Suns' run to the NBA Finals last season. The Arizona product averaged 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds on 65.8 percent shooting in the 2021 postseason. 

Despite his strong performance in the playoffs, Ayton and Phoenix were unable to come to an agreement on a rookie contract extension before the Oct. 18 deadline. He will be a restricted free agent after this season.

Ayton also missed time earlier this season with a leg injury. In the games Ayton has missed, veteran center JaVale McGee has taken his spot in the starting lineup but Phoenix is lacking frontcourt depth. Power forward Frank Kaminsky, who often plays as a small-ball five, has been out since Nov. 15 due to a stress reaction in his right knee.

As the NBA investigates allegations of racism, misogyny and a toxic workplace against Phoenix Suns governor Robert Sarver, former team employees are reportedly being released from non-disclosure agreements to speak with the league.

Per ESPN's Baxter Holmes, multiple former Suns employees said they have "begun scheduling and participating in interviews with the lawyers leading the NBA's investigation into the team" after being released from their NDAs.

Holmes noted those who signed NDAs are only being allowed to speak with the NBA as part of its investigation.

On Nov. 4, Holmes released a report containing allegations that Sarver has used racist language on multiple occasions in his tenure as Suns governor.

Former Suns head coach Earl Watson told Holmes that Sarver used the N-word multiple times after a 2016 loss to the Golden State Warriors:

'You know, why does Draymond Green get to run up the court and say [N-word],' Sarver, who is white, allegedly said, repeating the N-word several times in a row.

'You can't say that,' Watson, who is Black and Hispanic, told Sarver.

'"Why?' Sarver replied. 'Draymond Green says [N-word].'

'You can't f---ing say that,' Watson said again.

One Suns executive told Holmes that Sarver said during the team's coaching search in 2013 that "these [N-words] need a [N-word]" when stating why he preferred to hire Lindsey Hunter over Dan Majerle. 

Multiple former team employees recalled an instance soon after Sarver purchased the franchise when he passed around an image of his wife, Penny, in a Suns bikini to show how big a fan of the club he was.

Through his legal team, Sarver told Holmes that "a local apparel retailer had recently been awarded the license to sell official NBA branded swimwear" and sent a sample bikini to him and Penny, and he took a picture of her in it to show Suns staff "what the swimsuit looks like" if they wanted to carry it in the team shop.

Sarver was also accused of "making lewd comments in all-staff meetings, including discussing times when his wife would perform oral sex on him."

Mike Bass, the NBA's executive vice president of communications, announced Nov. 4 that the league had hired an independent law firm to investigate the allegations: 

The allegations contained in today's ESPN article are extremely serious, and we have directed the Wachtell Lipton law firm to commence a comprehensive investigation. The NBA and WNBA remain committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees.

Some interviews between former employees and the law firm have taken place, per Holmes, with more scheduled. 

The current and former employees being interviewed have "prepared extensive notes about allegations they wanted to share, dates of incidents and names of other witnesses to specific accounts."

Sarver, who made his fortune in banking and real estate, purchased the Suns and Phoenix Mercury from Jerry Colangelo in 2004.     

No-loss November has carried into December for the Phoenix Suns.

While Devin Booker, who coined the phrase for their undefeated efforts last month, was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Phoenix extended its winning streak to an astounding 18 games with a 114-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The 18 straight wins set a franchise record and set the stage for a thrilling Friday night clash with the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Johnson ⬆ Bridges ⬇@Suns roll into the second half with the lead on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/V0kkYEEIkG pic.twitter.com/mphPtmF1fB

— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2021

Chris Paul (12 points, 12 assists and two steals) and Deandre Ayton (17 points and 12 rebounds) led the way with double-doubles in a balanced effort against the Pistons. They were two of seven Suns who finished in double figures with Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne each posting a team-high 19 points.

The Suns also caught fire from three-point range for stretches (57.1 percent) and survived a lackluster third quarter thanks to a strong finishing kick.

Jerami Grant was the bright spot for the Pistons and posted 34 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.

The question now becomes how far can the Suns extend this streak as they get into a December schedule that features road games against the Warriors, L.A. Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

That doesn't even include a home date with Golden State on Christmas Day.

Chances are Phoenix will not go a second consecutive month without a loss, but it has played its way to the top of the Western Conference standings at 19-3.

The Warriors are 18-3, so the winner of Friday's game will have temporary bragging rights as the Western Conference playoff chase heats up.          

Devin Booker is expected to miss "a few games" for the Phoenix Suns because of a left hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

.@wojespn provides an update on Devin Booker on NBA Today.

"It's not believed to be a serious injury. ... I'm told to expect he's going to miss at least a few games." pic.twitter.com/Pj5hXoAgzC

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 1, 2021

Wojnarowski added the Suns don't believe the injury to be serious, but the team wants to take extra precautions at a relatively early stage in the 2021-22 NBA season.

Booker was limited to 15 minutes in Tuesday's 104-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors, finishing with 10 points, two rebounds and one assist.

The 25-year-old is vital toward Phoenix's hopes of returning to the NBA Finals. The shooting guard is averaging 23.2 points per game this year (15th in the league) and shooting a career-high 40.3 percent from beyond the arc.

But the defending Western Conference champions shouldn't be in dire straits with Booker out of the lineup for a brief stretch. They ran their winning streak to 17 games with Tuesday's result and are now own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors to claim the No. 1 spot in the West at 18-3.

The Utah Jazz are third in the conference and four games back the Suns, who have a seven-game cushion on the fourth- through eighth-place teams in the West.

In Booker's absence, Phoenix may need Deandre Ayton (16.0 PPG) and Mikal Bridges (12.4 PPG) to shoulder bigger loads on offense. Landry Shamet, his likely replacement at shooting guard who is averaging 7.3 points per game, will need to step up as well.

On October 27, the Phoenix Suns lost a home game to the Sacramento Kings. They dropped to 1-3 on the season and sparked early murmurings about the legitimacy of a Finals run that ended just three months earlier.

Since that date, Phoenix is 17-0. There are only 16 teams in NBA history that had longer winning streaks. And if the Suns extend their own to 18 games, they'll have a franchise record.

Their latest victim, a Golden State Warriors team that entered Tuesday's game at 18-2, suffered a similar fate as the previous 16 opponents floating in the wake. Despite having the league's best defense, Golden State looked as susceptible as the rest to a well-balanced attack that saw five players reach double figures (and two more combine for 17).

Even after Devin Booker left the game with a hamstring injury after just 15 minutes of action, Chris Paul's steady hand at the wheel for most possessions yielded open looks all over the floor. Whether it was Deandre Ayton inside, Jae Crowder or Cameron Johnson outside, or CP3 in between, Paul was manufacturing good looks all night. Even when he wasn't, he had some nonsense like this to fall back on:

CP3 putting on the moves 👀🔥 https://t.co/KqkDLe6B7w

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 1, 2021

That sort of spread-the-wealth offense is the first of three reasons Phoenix has been able to run off 17 straight wins.

Ayton led the Suns with 24 points Tuesday, making him the sixth player to be the high scorer in a single game during the streak. In the same stretch, six players are averaging double figures, with four more between 7.6 and 9.8 points per game.

Granted, injury absences from Ayton and Frank Kaminsky have allowed others to join that group, but even that might be another point in support of the Suns' depth and balance. Early in the streak, when Ayton was out, Kaminsky was providing surprise contributions. He dropped 31 on the Portland Trail Blazers on November 10. After his return, it was Ayton producing inside.

Cliches don't achieve cliche status without some truth to them, and having a roster capable of "next man up" production has been a critical component of Phoenix's success.

A dynamic first option like Booker, who's averaging 23.6 points and shooting 42.0 percent from three during the streak, is important. His ability to put stress on a defense at all three levels shouldn't be understated. But his absence for most of Tuesday's win over Golden State demonstrated what may be a bigger strength (at least in the regular season).

The middle of an 82-game campaign can feel like a slog, and having enough bodies and talent to survive some adversity can push you through that slog. Having that and players who are willing to share with each other can take a team to the next level, which is where the Suns are.

Another undeniable reason for Phoenix's success, high-end individual defenders and cohesiveness as a team, was on display Tuesday.

Stephen Curry entered the game averaging 28.6 points on a 64.5 true shooting percentage nearly 10 points above the league average. Thanks in large part to the stellar on-ball defense of Mikal Bridges, Curry finished Tuesday's game with 12 points on 4-of-21 shooting.

Good awareness and lateral quickness are important ingredients in the concoction that makes up Bridges' defense, but length is what kicks it up a notch. With a 7'1" wingspan, Bridges is able to bottle up smaller players like Curry on the outside. Even on the occasions when Curry's relentless off-ball movement got him a catch, Bridges was able to eliminate the gap in a heartbeat with those go-go-gadget arms.

As ESPN's Tim MacMahon put it, Bridges' 1-of-4 night was "one of the most impactful two-point performances you’ll ever see."

If these two teams meet in a playoff series, Phoenix might have the best option in the conference to guard Curry.

Bridges moving towards top of short list of guys guarding Steph

— Sam Esfandiari (@samesfandiari) December 1, 2021

Bridges isn't single-handedly responsible for the second-best defense in the NBA over the course of this winning streak, though.

Interchangeable wing defense from him, Johnson, Crowder and Booker give the Suns plenty of versatility on the outside. Signing JaVale McGee to back up Ayton allowed the team to have a traditional rim protector for 48 minutes. And the ever-irritating point-of-attack defense of CP3 can still rattle opposing 1s and muck up plenty of possessions.

On Tuesday, Paul had five steals, bringing his season average to 2.1. If that mark holds, it'll be the highest ever for a player in an age-36 (or older) season.

And, in a way, that brings us to the third and most important reason. Paul, generously listed at 6'0" and heading into his late-30s, should not be able to dominate games the way he did Tuesday night (and throughout this streak). Or, at least, we haven't really seen anyone do this yet.

This is Chris Paul’s 17th year. Smaller point guard still dominating games that late in a career is unheard of.

— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) December 1, 2021

On the year, Paul is now averaging 14.5 points and 10.1 assists (which would rank third for a player his age or older) while still lighting it up from the mid-range.

At any point in a game, he can seemingly seize complete control of a possession, dictate where everyone will go, when they'll get there and find the best option for a potential assist. And it doesn't seem to matter how high-leverage those possessions are.

In 29 "clutch" minutes this season (defined by the league as the final five minutes of games within five points), Paul has 31 points and 12 assists on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 16-of-17 shooting from the line.

With a supporting cast that may be as versatile as any Paul has had, a return trip to the Finals is very much in play.

A lot can change between now and then, but the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are crippled by injuries. The Los Angeles Lakers are a mess. Multiple early playoff exits for the Utah Jazz make it hard to imagine them playing in the postseason without the proverbial monkey on their back. And the Warriors, though they were without Klay Thompson and James Wiseman, showed a couple of exploitable problems Tuesday.

As good as Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are defensively, Ayton is the kind of big who can go around the latter and bury the former under the rim on post-ups and seals. And, as previously discussed, the Suns have tons of options, including Bridges, to throw at Curry.

There was a lot of talk about the injuries to Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray and Kawhi Leonard that somehow seemed to line up perfectly during the Suns' 2021 postseason. And it was (and is) fair to point out those absences.

But this team looks better than that one. It's playoff-tested. And a year of continuity and chemistry developed between Paul, Booker, Ayton, Bridges and the rest of the roster was impossible to miss throughout, as Booker put it, "No loss November." 

A matchup between the NBA's two hottest and best teams ended with the host Phoenix Suns beating the Golden State Warriors 104-96 at Footprint Center on Tuesday.

A sensational Suns defense held the Warriors under 101 points for the first time all year. Golden State also committed 22 turnovers, and Warriors point guard Stephen Curry shot just 4-of-21 (3-of-14 from three-point range) for 12 points.

The Suns played most of the game without shooting guard Devin Booker, who left midway through the second quarter with a left hamstring injury.

His teammates stepped up, with Deandre Ayton leading the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Chris Paul added 15 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and five steals, and Mikal Bridges added four more steals to guide the defensive effort.

Warriors guard Jordan Poole led all scorers with 28 points.

The Suns and Warriors are now tied atop the Western Conference with 18-3 records. Phoenix has won 17 straight to get there, while the Warriors' seven-game winning streak was snapped.

     

Notable Performances

Warriors SG Jordan Poole: 28 points, 5 rebounds

Warriors SF Otto Porter Jr.: 16 points, 6 rebounds

Warriors F Draymond Green: 8 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists

Suns PG Chris Paul: 15 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals

Suns C Deandre Ayton: 24 points, 11 rebounds

Suns SF Cameron Johnson: 14 points

    

Suns' Defense, Buoyed By Bridges, Overcomes Booker's Injury To Win

Things looked bleak for the Suns when Booker left the game with 5:59 left in the second quarter. At that juncture, the Warriors were leading 48-43 after opening up a nine-point lead earlier in the period.

From that moment forward, the Suns allowed just 48 points over the final 30 minutes of play, including six in the final 5:59 of the first half and 18 in the fourth quarter.

Curry had trouble getting open looks all night, with the Suns' length and defensive tenacity presenting serious problems. Ayton got out on Curry to deflect this outside shot:

🖐 pic.twitter.com/rhPTaRRdxd

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2021

Mikal Bridges got in on the act too, blocking a Curry layup attempt:

MIKAL BRIDGES! 🖐 pic.twitter.com/z92N5hPxzM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2021

Curry, who averaged 28.6 points per game entering Tuesday, shot just 1-of-7 from two-point range.

He wasn't the only Warrior on the wrong end of great Suns' defensive plays, as a Poole pass to Curry got deflected by Bridges before he went all the way for his only points of the game:

Anticipate and attack. pic.twitter.com/sZkfI4E71e

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2021

Bridges played 41 minutes and had as many points as turnovers (two), but this is one of those times where the box score doesn't adequately tell the story of how valuable he was on this evening.

As ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Gerald Boourguet of PHNX Sports noted:

Mikal Bridges just had one of the most impactful two-point performances you’ll ever see.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 1, 2021

It's wild how Mikal Bridges has 2 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds on 1-4 FG and has still been one of the most impactful players in this game

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 1, 2021

His defense in particular set the tone for the team, whether it was amassing one of his five steals or blocks or getting in Curry's face. He's even getting some Defensive Player of the Year love from Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer:

Draymond is my DPOY favorite so far this season but Mikal Bridges belongs in the conversation.

It's usually an award for bigs but Bridges has been extraordinary all season, just like tonight vs. Steph.

Somehow, Bridges is only +12000 to win it on FanDuel—the 29th-highest odds.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 1, 2021

Meanwhile, it was a no-fly zone in the post with Ayton down low, as he blocked an Andrew Wiggins offering:

WE SEE YOU BIG FELLA. 🖐 pic.twitter.com/yLtPg8y35E

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2021

The Suns needed to win this game with a strong defensive effort to dispatch the Warriors with Booker out, as losing their sweet-shooting guard significantly hindered the offense. The beauty of this Suns team, however, is that it can win in a variety of games.

One of them is outlasting their opponent in a defensive slugfest more akin to 1990s basketball than today's game, and that's what happened Tuesday as Phoenix tied the record for the franchise's longest winning streak.

   

Blip on Radar Screen for Warriors

The Warriors entered this game as winners of 18 of their first 20 contests. Their two losses were by a combined seven points.

They outscored their opponents by 13.7 points per game, and their 13.6 net rating was the only one in the league in double digits, per Basketball-Reference.

An ugly loss to the Suns doesn't change the fact that the Warriors have been the most dominant team in basketball.

Curry isn't shooting 4-of-21 every night, and that might stand as his worst offensive performance of the season when the story of the 2021-22 campaign is written.

The Warriors also aren't committing 22 turnovers every night.

The fact that this was a one-possession game with under four minutes left despite their sloppiness shows that the Warriors can hang with the league's elite (on the road no less) despite failing to play anywhere near their best.

If anything, there's reason to point at some encouraging positives. Jordan Poole continues to be one of the most improved players in the NBA, as evidenced by his 16 first-quarter points:

16 points in the first frame for Jordan Poole 💥 pic.twitter.com/ub8dQaF2Gi

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 1, 2021

Gary Payton II continues to be an energetic and productive force off the bench, which helps the Dubs arguably sport one of the deepest second units in the league. His work on both ends is going to be a major asset come playoff time:

Attack mode on defense.
Attack mode on offense. pic.twitter.com/E1i85hv9Et

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 1, 2021

Go ahead now Gary 🔨

📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/hl2NrRwUtL

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 1, 2021

And Otto Porter Jr. keeps dropping buckets, as he's scored 12 or more points in four of the Warriors' last five games.

Ottomatic pic.twitter.com/mG5LC2TebV

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 1, 2021

He's now shot 21-of-41 in his last five games.

This wasn't a good evening for the Warriors, but they can take a lot of good from it knowing that they are a championship-caliber unit that can coast to 60-plus wins.

       

What's Next?

Phoenix will host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

The Warriors' next game will be against Phoenix, who will visit Chase Center on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

The Phoenix Suns announced that star shooting guard Devin Booker will not return to his team's home game against the Golden State Warriors after suffering a left hamstring injury.

Booker left the game with 5:59 remaining in the first half. Cameron Johnson substituted in for Booker, and the Suns closed the second quarter with a five of Johnson, Chris Paul, Cameron Payne, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton.

With Devin Booker out for rest of game with left hamstring injury, this is something that he's had before and came back from.

So for the long term, he'll be back.

For short term, #Suns can go a bunch of different ways, but right now, it's Paul, Payne, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 1, 2021

By the numbers, the 25-year-old's 2020-21 season wasn't too different from the five years preceding it. He averaged 25.6 points on 48.4 percent shooting, nearly equal to 2019-20 (26.6 points; 48.9 percent).

However, Booker eliminated any doubt as to whether he can be the top star on a franchise with championship ambitions. He put up 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the playoffs as Phoenix reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.

The Suns kept all of their key players from last year, most notably giving Chris Paul a four-year, $120 million extension. Running it back was the sensible approach for general manager James Jones because he didn't need to reshuffle the roster and there wasn't a trade on the table that would've significantly raised Phoenix's ceiling.

But that meant the team will again need Booker to play at an All-Star level to remain a top-four threat in the Western Conference. His absence leaves a major void in the backcourt.

If Booker is forced to miss any time, then Ayton, Bridges and Johnson may need to assume larger roles in the offense. Landry Shamet will presumably see more minutes as well.

Phoenix will have a day off before returning to the court at home Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.