NBA News: Three Key Takeaways From Suns' Wednesday Night Encounter With Warriors

The Phoenix Suns have tied their franchise-high record in wins with 62 after defeating the Golden State Warriors, 107-103, in a hotly-contested matchup at the Chase Center.

A big-fight feel loomed in the air as both squads tried to prove their dominance over the other, and the game had some telling signs of what fans could be in store for should they meet in the playoffs.

Balanced Offense

Suns shooting guard Devin Booker had one of his worst, if not the worst, games in a Suns jersey after putting up 22 points on 5-of-21 shooting from the field; the same output that Warriors star Klay Thompson had.

If not for the solid play of third-year wing player Mikal Bridges and all-time great point guard Chris Paul, the Suns would not have been able to muster the necessary offense to keep the Warriors at bay in the closing moments.

Impending restricted free agent Deandre Ayton also chipped in with a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double of his own to anchor the Suns, but even he was shaky as he dropped the ball multiple times in crucial moments in the fourth quarter.

Winning their first NBA title is certainly on the mind of everyone on the team, which is why the reigning Western Conference champions need to at least maintain this level of play heading into the postseason.

Stephen Curry’s Heir Apparent

Jordan Poole, 22, is currently in the running for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award after putting up impressive lines this season and Warriors fans know it best.

Poole had a strong showing against the league-leading Suns and ended the night with 38 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in nearly 37 minutes of action.

His scoring outburst also tied his career-high that he hung on the New Orleans Pelicans back in May 2021, scoring 21 of them from beyond the three-point line.

It is becoming clear to the rest of the league that the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history has found his protégé, and it will only be a matter of time before Warriors head coach Steve Kerr unleashes his potential.

Poole’s brilliant performance was overshadowed by him taking a halfcourt shot with about four seconds left on the clock, a move that seemed inexplicable to most fans but had his reasons to risk it.

Potential Seven-Game Series

From a basketball fan’s perspective, the fourth and last regular-season meeting between these two teams is everything that they could have asked for.

Multiple lead changes in the fourth quarter, defensive stops, and a bit of trash-talking have fans salivating about the prospect of a seven-game clash of titans in the playoffs.

It can certainly happen as early as the second round of the postseason if the Warriors stick around the fourth or fifth seed.

There is optimism that the Warriors can climb back to third and face the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz in the first round to set up a potential Western Conference Finals matchup with the Suns.

Whatever the case may be, it seems destined that these two teams will duke it out for all the marbles this postseason and fans need only wait to see when it will happen.