Kevin Durant was welcomed back with a video tribute and an ovation and Chris Paul was greeted with "C-P-3!" chants by the crowd but cold shooting and poor rebounding did negated a 40-19 third quarter as the Suns prevailed with a 108-104 victory at Chase Center on Tuesday night.
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Chris Paul combined to shoot 18-for-53 (33.9%) and 7-for-31 (22/6%) from three and the Warriors were out-rebounded 60-49 with Phoenix cashing in 26 second chance points.
Chris Paul wasn't concerned about the poor shooting when asked postgame.
Klay Thompson 6-for-18 night was as streaky as his 2022-23 season. Thompson began by missing severn of his first eight shots, then hit four straight before finishing the night making just one of his final six attempts.
Chris Paul received a warm welcome from Warriors fans in his debut after spending so many years among the most disliked opponents even receiving "C-P-3!" chants inside Chase Center. Paul addressed it in hilarious fashion.
Kevin Durant was also welcomed back with a tribute video and standing ovation pregame in his first game back in the Bay Area with fans in attendance since leaving the Warriors in 2019.
Kevin Durant on his relationship with the Warriors fanbase: "Nothing but love and respect." pic.twitter.com/CXeiEGQwfw
— Evan Giddings (@egiddings10) October 25, 2023
Jonathan Kuminga was in the Warriors closing lineup over Andrew Wiggins. Kuminga provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot while Wiggins struggled in his 27 minutes with a game worst -22 plus/minus.
“He isn't at his best yet… Wiggs will be fine. It wasn’t his best night but he’ll get better and better as we go," Steve Kerr told reporters after the game while adding that the finishing lineups will be fluid with the Warriors having so many options depending on who is playing well on a given night.
Next up for Golden State is a rematch of last year's first round series against the Kings in Sacramento on Friday night.
