Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors
PREVIEW: Golden State arrives in Phoenix off a 136-131 road loss to Portland on Sunday , while the Suns suffered a heartbreaking 116-114 defeat to the Lakers on the same day . Both teams are searching for answers after slumping through the holiday stretch, with the Warriors ranking first in three-point volume at 50.1% of their shot attempts and the Suns forcing turnovers at the second-best rate in the league. Stephen Curry enters this matchup on fire, having scored 48 points and drained 12 three-pointers in his most recent outing , though he'll face defensive-minded wing Dillon Brooks, who was acquired by Phoenix via trade this offseason. Golden State sits as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total set at 230.5.
The Suns boast an impressive 8-5 home record compared to the Warriors' 6-10 mark on the road , setting up an intriguing clash between a hot offense and a suffocating defensive unit. Golden State's defense ranks third in limiting three-point quality , while Phoenix's high-frequency midrange attack and strong offensive rebounding could present matchup problems. The Warriors struggle with ball security, ranking 24th in turnover rate , which plays directly into Phoenix's aggressive turnover-forcing approach . This Western Conference battle features two teams desperate to reverse course, each armed with the tools to exploit the other's weaknesses in prime time.