Why Steph vs. KD matchup will determine Warriors-Suns outcome

Why Steph vs. KD matchup will determine Warriors-Suns outcome originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Once Warriors teammates and after practice-training partners, they will come from opposite benches Saturday for a quick pregame tap, which will be followed hours later by a brief postgame embrace.

Meanwhile, the Warriors and Suns will clash, with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant each trying to hang an “L” on the other.

Playing different positions, Curry and Durant won’t be assigned to defend each other — neither would have much of a chance to limit the other — but as their team’s superstarstheir performance will likely determine the direction of the game.

With both teams coming to the Chase Center with a 15-15 record, it’s fair to expect that these 36-year-olds will be chasing the win with a vengeance. Neither would be content to wake up Sunday leading a sub-.500 team.

Both teams have slipped significantly after terrific starts. After winning 12 of 15 games, Golden State has since lost 12 of its next 15. Phoenix was 8-1 before Durant went down with a strained calf in early November. As valuable as Curry is to the Warriors, they are 4-2 when he sits. However, Durant’s availability has been crucial for the Suns to avoid a complete collapse. They are 14-6 when he plays, 1-9 when he doesn’t.

Still, Golden State, as Curry noted a few days ago, faces a crucial phase of the season. The impressive early-season numbers have blown up during their prolonged slump, and it’s impossible to imagine a sudden turnaround without Curry at the center.

Curry is averaging 22.5 points per game. matchwho is shooting 44.4 percent from the field, including 41.1 percent from deep. All three numbers are below his career average, but he is coming off a season-high 38 points in a Christmas Day loss to the Lakers.

Durant is an average of 27.5 pointson 51.5 percent shooting, including 42 percent from distance — all slightly above his career average. He is averaging 33 points per game since returning to the Phoenix lineup on December 13.

While Curry got the day off Friday in Los Angeles when Golden State was defeated by the Clippers, Durant scored 35 points in 38 minutes in the Suns’ home loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Suns are without four-time All-Star Devin Booker (left groin strain), so KD’s offense is a requirement for success.
While Curry’s scoring—and presence—always gives the Warriors a chance, they’ll also need some ferocious defense to pull themselves out of this tailspin.

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