The 2021-22 NBA season has been a difficult one for teams to navigate. Injuries and the COVID-19 spike have caused some difficulties for teams as players are constantly cycling in and out of the lineups.
There have been some teams that have handled them well, but there have been two that are head and shoulders above the rest; the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. They have cemented themselves as the two best teams in the NBA with their consistent production despite being without key pieces throughout the season.
Golden State is currently 27-6 on the season and could get even better once Klay Thompson and James Wiseman return to the lineup. The Suns are right on their heels with a 26-6 record, as they navigated a part of the season without All-Star Devin Booker.
They have matched up three times thus far this season and all three matchups have drawn a lot of attention from fans. Each of them has been on national television in a prime television slot, as they should have been.
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The first matchup was arguably the best regular-season matchup in the history of the NBA, as both teams came in on long winning streaks. The Warriors had won seven in a row, while the Suns were riding a 16-game winning streak. Not only that, but both teams also had winning percentages north of .850.
The Suns won that game at their home arena, 104-96. It was the first time that the Warriors were held under 100 points all season. In the rematch later in the week, the Warriors exacted some revenge, winning 118-96 as the Suns were without Booker and saw their 18-game winning streak snapped.
The third installment in the series came on Christmas Day back at Footprint Center. The Warriors emerged victorious again, as Stephen Curry led the way with 33 points. It was an impressive victory for the Warriors, who were without multiple rotation players, such as Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, who are in the league’s health and safety protocols.
The Suns had five players score in double-figures on Christmas, led by Chris Paul with 21. The fourth and final regular-season matchup between the teams will be near the end of the regular season on March 30th.
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That game could have a lot of significance, as playoff positioning and tiebreakers could be on the line. If that fourth meeting is anything like the first three, it will be a treat for fans before the postseason gets underway.
All three meetings thus far have had a playoff intensity, as the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns are on a collision course for a postseason series as well. Watching them battle it out in the Western Conference Finals for a chance to play in the NBA Finals is something that would not be surprising, as they are the clear-cut two best teams not only in the Western Conference but possibly the NBA.
