The Golden State Warriors fell to the Phoenix Suns 131-122 Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back. Despite playing without Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski and Draymond Green, the Warriors remained competitive throughout, thanks to rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and former high school teammates De'Anthony Melton and Brandon Williams.
Beginning with Lendeborg, the former NCAA champion followed up his first career double-double Friday with a team-high 26 points on 6-for-11 shooting from 3-point range to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and one block. Williams, who entered the starting lineup in place of Curry, scored 20 points on 5-for-10 shooting while also tallying five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Lastly, the aforementioned Melton was a spark plug off the bench, posting 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
That said, Suns' star Devin Booker was too much to contain, as the five-time All-Star scored 43 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
Now 0-3 to start the year, Golden State will have a rest day Sunday before facing the Denver Nuggets on the road Monday.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Shorthanded Warriors make things competitive, still fall to Phoenix 131-122