The Phoenix Suns lost 113-112 to the Golden State Warriors Saturday on a Steph Curry game-winning 3 after Bradley Beal went for and missed a steal.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After the game, Beal claimed his mask was the reason for the missed steal.
“If I didn’t have this damn mask on, I would’ve gotten that,” Beal said. “No excuse, but my peripheral suck in masks.”
"I just gambled bad. It's just plain and simple. I was thinking I was supposed to switch with a guy and we didn't switch."
Bradley Beal on Steph Curry game winning 3.
"If I didn't have this damn mask on, I would've gotten that. No excuse, but my peripheral suck in masks." #Suns https://t.co/m6LAXSkmvW pic.twitter.com/X4C4NJDSRj
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 11, 2024
Today, Beal further commented on the play after looking back at it.
“We didn’t guard the last play the right way, but I still shouldn’t have went for the steal as close as it looked,” Beal said. “Probably still should have stayed solid and just forced him to shoot. If he made it over me, he makes it that’s what he does. I’d rather him have a contest over hand versus no contest and allow him to look at the hoop. Hindsight, 100% I know I won’t make that mistake again, for sure.”
Knowing Beal’s peripheral vision is messed up with the mask, why didn’t the Suns sub in a defensive player like Josh Okogie? Coach Frank Vogel said he considered it, but explained why he didn’t.
“We had a game a couple of couple games back where Eric (Gordon) switched out and got a stop on the last possession, so we felt good with the guys that were loose and in rhythm,” Vogel said. “(Okogie) hadn’t been in six minutes or so, so we went with that.”
#Suns coach Frank Vogel explains why he didn’t put in Josh Okogie on the final defensive possession vs. the #Warriors
“We felt like going with the guys that were loose and in rhythm” https://t.co/9wRFN1Z1Gz pic.twitter.com/AzDptB4lDD
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) February 13, 2024
The Suns (31-22) will look to rebound from this loss and learn from this moment, as they host the Sacramento Kings (30-22) tomorrow night, their second-to-last game before the All-Star break.
Kevin Durant has utmost respect for Stephen Curry after game-winner
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
