NBA roundup: Suns consign Warriors to another road loss, Celtics score big win

Phoenix, Arizona - Stephen Curry scored 50 points but could not prevent the Golden State Warriors' winless road run from extending to eight games after a 130-119 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Left: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker passes the ball as he flies out of bounds against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. Right: Suns guard Cameron Payne drives to the basket against Warriors forward JaMychal Green and guard Donte DiVincenzo.
Left: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker passes the ball as he flies out of bounds against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. Right: Suns guard Cameron Payne drives to the basket against Warriors forward JaMychal Green and guard Donte DiVincenzo.  © Collage: REUTERS

The defeat means the Warriors are 0-8 on the road this season, and slump to 6-9 in the 2022-23 campaign, which is a tie for fourth worst 15-game start to a season by an NBA champion.

Golden State's 0-8 road start is the worst ever by a defending champion in NBA history. The eight-defeat run is also a tie for third for longest road losing streak by a defending champion in their title-defense season.

The Warriors' defense was an issue once again, having allowed 124.3 points per game on the road this season, which is the worst in the NBA. The Warriors' opponents have scored 120 or more points six times in 15 games this season.

WNBA Finals: Breanna Stewart leads Liberty past Lynx in thrilling Game 2
NBA WNBA Finals: Breanna Stewart leads Liberty past Lynx in thrilling Game 2

The Suns improved to 9-5, with point guard Cameron Payne top scoring with 29 points, including six three-pointers, alongside Devin Booker with 27 points. Mikal Bridges added 23 points with five triples along with eight rebounds and nine assists.

Phoenix, who were without Cameron Johnson (knee), Chris Paul (heel), and Jae Crowder, knocked down a season-high 21 three-pointers, which is the most allowed by the Warriors this season, shooting at 52.5% from beyond the arc.

Curry posted 50 points on 17-of-28 field shooting with seven-of-11 from three-point range with nine rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson added 19 points, but the Warriors' bench combined for only 17 points.

Around the league

Left: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after making a three-point shot against the Atlanta Hawks. Right: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots over Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris.
Left: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after making a three-point shot against the Atlanta Hawks. Right: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots over Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris.  © Collage: REUTERS

The short-handed Boston Celtics secured their eighth straight win with a 126-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, where seven players scored double digits for the winners.

Jayson Tatum had a career-high six assists in the first quarter and finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Jaylen Brown top scored for Boston with 22 points. Derrick White dished off 10 assists, and Al Horford hauled down 11 rebounds.

During the Celtics' eight-game win streak, they have the NBA's best offensive efficiency (123.2), three-point field goals made (16.4), and assists-turnovers ratio (2.3).

WNBA Finals: Sabrina Ionescu seals Liberty lead over Lynx in stunning Game 3 final play
NBA WNBA Finals: Sabrina Ionescu seals Liberty lead over Lynx in stunning Game 3 final play

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored an equal career-high 42 points, including draining a last-gasp three-pointer, to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Washington Wizards 121-120.

Bradley Beal had hit a two-pointer to put the Wizards up 120-118 with 6.1 seconds left, but Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 19 points in the third quarter, had time to hit a step-back triple with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Over the last two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored four go-ahead or game-tying field goals in the final five seconds, which is more than any other player in the NBA. Nine players have two.

Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS

More on NBA: