PHOENIX _ Draymond Green unleashed his emotions with the same intensity and speed that he plays basketball.
The Golden State Warriors were in the middle of completing a dominant third-quarter run, prompting Green to outwardly express his emotions for every key play his team made. Green threw his hands up when he sank a 3-pointer. Green clapped his hands toward Warriors center Zaza Pachulia after he made a defensive stop. Green slapped hands with Warriors guard Quinn Cook after he made a shot from beyond the arc.
With the Warriors nursing injuries to Stephen Curry (right ankle), Klay Thompson (right thumb) and Kevin Durant (ribs) for the second consecutive game, it seemed natural for Green to assume the heavier workload as the lone All-Star in the Warriors' 123-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Green had also done that in Friday's loss to Sacramento. This time, though, Green's playmaking and intensity empowered his teammates even more, while also posting 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting, 11 rebounds and eight assists
Warriors guard Quinn Cook posted a career-high on consecutive nights with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, which marks the most points any player on a two-way contract in an NBA game scored this season. It also raises questions if the Warriors would waive a recently injured Omri Casspi (right ankle) so Cook will be on the full-time roster.
Warriors guard Nick Young had 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, a day after shooting only 5-of-15 from the field against the Sacramento Kings.
While Warriors third-year forward Kevon Looney added a career-high 13 points and six blocks, veterans Andre Igudoala (11 points), Shuan Livingston (11) and David West (10) also contributed.
At the center of that was Green, who played a major part in leading the Warriors third-quarter charge. After the Warriors trailed the Suns, 60-52, at halftime, Green opened the third quarter aggressively. He converted on a hook shot. He made a 26-foot 3-pointer. He drove in for a dunk. He set up Iguodala for an open layup and 3-pointer on consecutive possessions.
So when the Suns called timeout after the Warriors pulled ahead 78-71 with 5:01 left in the third quarter, Green poured out his emotions on his way toward the bench. The Warriors cemented a 94-85 lead minutes later to end the third quarter, capping off a stretch in which they outscored the Suns, 42-25.
The Suns eventually cut the Warriors' lead to 117-107 with 2:45 left. No worries. Green posted up and finished inside. He then stuffed Suns guard Shaquille Harrison at the rim. Green then nailed a 3-pointer for a 112-107 cushion with 47 seconds left.
