While it wasn’t a major surprise that the Warriors fell to the Suns, the way they lost left a bitter taste. According to Melbet APK analysts, this wasn’t just another defeat—it was a painful reminder of deeper issues plaguing Golden State. As the saying goes, life is like riding a bicycle: to keep your balance, you must keep moving. The Warriors did just that—at least in the first quarter.
Klay Thompson started hot, scoring in double digits within five minutes, continuing his recent resurgence. Despite being heavily guarded, Steph Curry managed to hit tough three-pointers. Chris Paul, meanwhile, seemed energized by facing his former team. He dished out five impressive assists in the opening quarter, orchestrating a smooth offensive rhythm and exposing Phoenix’s vulnerability in playmaking since his departure.
Yet the early advantage built on team cohesion proved fragile. Phoenix, backed by individual brilliance from Durant and Booker, quickly evened the score. Even without the same fluid ball movement as the Warriors, their sheer scoring talent turned the tide. More troubling than Phoenix’s field goals was their uncanny ability to draw fouls and pile up free throws. With referee Scott Foster leading the officiating crew, the game was frequently interrupted, breaking the flow and testing players’ composure.
By halftime, the Suns had attempted 13 more free throws than the Warriors. This imbalance visibly affected Golden State’s morale. Frustrated, Paul confronted Foster late in the second quarter, perhaps forgetting the long-standing curse associated with this particular referee. After all, Paul had suffered 14 consecutive playoff losses under Foster’s officiating, failing to win a single postseason game for a decade when he was on the whistle. True to form, Foster gave Paul two quick technicals, ejecting him from the game.
As Paul headed to the locker room, Durant and Booker kept building the lead from the line, and by halftime, Phoenix had taken control. Although the Warriors may have had a case against the referees, their struggles go beyond officiating. Melbet APK experts point to a larger pattern dating back to last season. Golden State, once dominant at home, became increasingly fragile on the road—an alarming drop for a team that won four titles using their trademark small-ball system.
But the aging core of Curry, Thompson, and Green is no longer what it used to be. The death lineup doesn’t strike fear like it once did. Based on long-term tracking by Melbet APK, both offense and defense have become more dependent on favorable whistles, a sign of their diminishing dominance. At home, the crowd can sometimes cover up their flaws, but on the road, refs don’t turn a blind eye to the Warriors’ defensive antics.
In this game, the scapegoat might appear to be Scott Foster, but the real issue lies in the Warriors’ ongoing decline. It’s the same vulnerability that haunted them last season—only now, it’s even more evident. Add to that Curry being relentlessly targeted by opposing defenses, and the pressure on him is growing heavier by the game.
In the second half, the Warriors had only one real option: lean on the old formula, screen relentlessly for Curry, and hope he catches fire. If you want to soar, you can’t be afraid to leave the ground behind. Surprisingly, head coach Steve Kerr made a puzzling move in the third quarter—benching the entire starting lineup, as if waving the white flag. For fans and analysts alike, that decision symbolized more than just in-game tactics; it signaled a team unsure of its identity, searching for answers in a season full of questions.