Cameron Payne on Wednesday had a career-high 29 points, while Devin Booker added 27 as the Phoenix Suns easily overcame Stephen Curry’s 50-point night to beat the struggling Golden State Warriors 130-119, with all five Suns starters scoring in double figures.
Booker stepped back for a three-pointer in the closing minute of the third quarter as Curry gamely tried to stay with him, putting a hand in his face.
Booker made the shot anyway as a frustrated Curry dropped his head.
Photo: AFP
No matter how many points the Warriors superstar scored, the Suns came right back with an answer.
“It’s important to have a team,” Booker said about the balanced production. “That gives you longevity and will get us through a season.”
The Suns controlled most of the game despite Curry’s scoring. The eight-time All-Star made 17 of 28 shots, going seven of 11 from three-point range.
Photo: AFP
The problem for the Warriors was nobody else was helping. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points, but shot just six of 17.
The Warriors — defending NBA champions — fell to 6-9 for the season, including 0-8 on the road.
Curry did not have much to say about his 50 points, instead focusing on the team’s struggles.
Photo: AFP
“Losing becomes a habit if you don’t fix it,” Curry said. “We avoided that for a very long time. We are very aware of who we are and our potential. The losing does get old really quick.”
“I think for right now, we are just scattered,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s a pickup game. It’s a pickup game out there.”
Curry’s scoring prowess is expected, but it was countered by one of the best games of Payne’s career. Starting in place of the injured Chris Paul, the 1.91m guard made nine of 17 shots, including six of 10 from beyond the arc.
Coach Monty Williams praised Payne’s play, but also criticized the guard’s late-game decisions, including picking up a flagrant foul.
“Cam can score the ball and he had seven assists to go with it, but in closing moments, he has to be better,” Williams said. “We don’t need all that silliness at the end of games.”
The Suns led 103-89 going into the fourth quarter. The Warriors quickly cut into that margin, but could not get closer than eight points. Damion Lee hit back-to-back three-pointers against his former team to keep the Suns comfortably ahead.
The Suns shot 21 of 40 (52.5 percent) from three-point range and had 33 assists. Mikal Bridges had 23 points and a career-high nine assists. Torrey Craig added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
It was a frenetic first half, with the shooting of both teams going well — particularly behind the arc.
The Suns led 72-65 at the break, with Curry scoring 31 points.
Payne had 18 for the Suns and Booker had 16.
Curry was at his best in the first half, making 10 of 13 shots from the field, including four of five three-pointers.
He came into the game averaging about 31 points per game and hit that mark with a free throw near the end of the second quarter.
“Steph is going to have Steph moments,” Williams said.
In Atlanta, Georgia, the undermanned Boston Celtics got 22 points from Jaylen Brown and stretched their winning streak to eight games with a 126-101 road victory against the Atlanta Hawks.
Boston’s thin backcourt resulted in more minutes for point guard Derrick White, who finished the game with 16 points and 10 assists. Jayson Tatum contributed 19 points.
Trae Young had 27 points, nine assists and five rebounds for the Hawks.
Dejounte Murray added 19 points for the Hawks, who scored the game’s first basket then did not have the lead after that.
In other games, it was:
‧ Bucks 113, Cavaliers 98
‧ Hornets 113, Pacers 125
‧ Magic 108, Timberwolves 126
‧ Mavericks 92, Rockets 101
‧ Nuggets 103, Knicks 106
‧ Pelicans 124, Bulls 110
‧ Raptors 112, Heat 104
‧ Wizards 120, Thunder 121
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