Through the two-and-a-half quarters of Tuesday’s contest between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, it felt like a playoff game at the Footprint Center in the desert.
Each team traded runs and clutch buckets, resulting in an intense battle into the third quarter. The intensity only ramped up in the third quarter, with seven total technical fouls being handed out by referee Ed Malloy.
With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Klay Thompson received his first career ejection after picking up a pair of technicals for jawing back and forth with Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker. When Thompson was ejected, the Warriors were trailing by six points. Before the third quarter came to a close, the Suns’ advantage ballooned all the way to 19 points.
The pair of Booker and Mikal Bridges combined for 20 points in the third quarter to take a firm grip on the game with one quarter remaining. Despite Steph Curry’s late attempts to build a run, the Suns slammed the door in the final frame.
Booker hit a clutch 3-pointer to go along with nine points in the fourth quarter as the Suns closed out the Warriors on their way to a blowout, 134-105. Although the Warriors had six players scoring in double-figures, they had no answer for the Suns late.
Following the Warriors’ second loss of the early season, the NBA community chimed in on Twitter with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Tuesday evening after Golden State’s blowout loss in Phoenix.
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Rough loss for the Dubs in Phoenix.
— C.J. Holmes 🦹🏾♂️ (@CjHolmes22) October 26, 2022
Klay is lovable and maybe the most liked guy
And should be a top 75 guy but I’m outside of shooting what does he do better than d book?
— Travonne Edwards (travonne.eth) (@Travonne) October 26, 2022
The Warriors have given up 109, 128, 125 and now 134 points in their four games. They're 2-2. They have a 114.8 defensive rating, ranked 22nd league-wide through a week of hoops.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 26, 2022
Real talk, Klay flexing his rings with 2 points is precisely why the Warriors are in trouble. At that point in the dynasty cycle where there's been a little *too* much continuity, and ego tends to get in the way
— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) October 26, 2022
FAMILY! pic.twitter.com/kHNqWu1ylD
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2022
Warriors guard Klay Thompson shot 0-for-4, including 0-for-3 from 3-point range, with Devin Booker as his primary defender tonight before his first career ejection. pic.twitter.com/04Wi30FHCB
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 26, 2022
Caption This pic.twitter.com/p31uYVdivX
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) October 26, 2022
https://t.co/5cjKTxpFYE pic.twitter.com/vovD9mYryV
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) October 26, 2022
Damn, it’s a civil war on Warriors TL again? Blame it Wiseman, blame it on Klay, blame it on the drama in the preseason, and you can blame it on the defense. But who can you blame when she all she wanted you to do was to just listen?
— Nai (@_Nai_Roy) October 26, 2022
One thing I’ve noticed.
People love talking about how “bad” Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are…
Until it’s time to talk about Steph Curry’s legacy, and then those same pole try to prop them up to diminish Steph.
— Guru (@DrGuru_) October 26, 2022
Feel like a Klay 40 point close out game coming in 2023
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) October 26, 2022
CONGRATS TO THE PHOENIX SUNS FOR WINNING THE REGULAR SEASON NBA CHAMPIONSHIP!!
— ʙʀᴜᴄᴇ ʟᴇᴇ-ʀᴏʏ 🥋 (@iconic_roy) October 26, 2022
I didn’t know we were doing revisionist history with Klay’s career after one ejection 🤣🤣🤣 against a dude that’s won nothing no less
— Shohei Ohtani Stan Account (@AndyKHLiu) October 26, 2022
GSW Points Allowed:
109
128
125
134— Dennywise🎃 (@doubledworth) October 26, 2022
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 26, 2022
You can say whatever. The rings are valid. Just don’t say Klay Thompson is better at basketball than Devin Booker.
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) October 26, 2022
Klay let Book know 👀
(h/t @warriorsworld) pic.twitter.com/4MYw8VyTMv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2022
Klay now has more career ejections than CP3 has rings
— Ramon A.Martinez Esq 🏆×7 the Champ (@IamMonhunnit) October 26, 2022
Klay now has more career ejections than CP3 has rings
— Ramon A.Martinez Esq 🏆×7 the Champ (@IamMonhunnit) October 26, 2022
Free throws:
Phoenix – 26/32
Warriors – 11/15— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) October 26, 2022
Warriors went cold. Just 35 points in the second half to this point. Couldn't keep up with the Suns
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) October 26, 2022
