PHOENIX -– The Warriors go into the All-Star break on a high, with a 112-104 icing of the fading Suns on Wednesday night in Phoenix.
Though the Warriors didn’t play particularly well by their standard, the win sends them into the break with an 11-game win streak and a 48-4 record –- the best in NBA history through 52 games.
Three Warriors scored in double figures, Stephen Curry leading with way with 26 points. Klay Thompson put in 24 points and Leandro Barbosa tossed in 12.
[POOLE: Kerr: Warriors 'in great hands' if he needs to step away again]
The Warriors allowed Phoenix to shoot 52.4 percent in the opening quarter before ratcheting up the defense and holding the Suns to 31.8 percent in the second. Phoenix shot 41.6 percent for the game.
Coach Steve Kerr played all 13 available players, with rookie Kevon Looney nailing his first career 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining.
The defending champions led by as much as 22 in handing Phoenix (14-40) its ninth consecutive loss and 24th in its last 26 games. The Warriors have beaten the Suns six times in a row dating back to last season.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Curry cops the honor for being his team’s catalyst while captivating the crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena with his shooting and theatrical ball-handling exploits.
Curry’s line: 26 points (9-of-17 shooting, 5-of-10 from beyond the arc), nine assists and nine rebounds. He finished plus-12 over 30 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter.
TURNING POINT
After an Alex Len dunk pulled the Suns pulled within two, 37-35, with 7:52 left in the second quarter, the Warriors roared back with a 16-0 run, taking a 53-35 lead with 2:15 left in the half.
Curry and Thompson scored 6 points apiece during that stretch, as the Warriors held Phoenix to 0-of-9 shooting, with three turnovers.
The Suns for the remainder of the game got no closer than the final margin of eight.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) and C Festus Ezeli (L knee surgery) were listed as out.
Suns: G Brandon Knight (L adductor strain), G Ronnie Price (R toe surgery) G Eric Bledsoe (L knee surgery) and F T.J. Warren (R foot fracture) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors on Thursday begin their All-Star break, returning to practice next Wednesday and resuming game action Feb. 19 against the Trail Blazers in Portland.
