Warriors Stun Suns with Gritty Fourth-Quarter Rally, Snap Losing Skid Without Curry or Butler
Down 14 in the fourth quarter. No Stephen Curry.
No Jimmy Butler. On the road.
And still - somehow - the Golden State Warriors walked out of the Mortgage Matchup Center with a 101-97 win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
It wasn’t just a comeback. It was a gut-check, grind-it-out, find-a-way kind of win - the type that can swing the mood of a locker room and maybe even a season.
Golden State closed the game on a 22-5 run, holding Phoenix to just seven points over the final 10 minutes - and only two points in the last 7:20. That’s not just defense.
That’s defensive domination. And it came at the perfect time for a Warriors team that had dropped two straight and looked like they were about to make it three.
The Three-Point Barrage That Set the Tone
The Warriors came out firing from deep - and we mean firing. Thirty of their first 40 shots came from beyond the arc.
That’s not a typo. It was a bold strategy, but it paid off early.
Golden State hit 15 threes in the first half alone, building a 59-55 lead at the break.
Pat Spencer was the unexpected hero in that early barrage, drilling five triples en route to a career-high 20 points. Starting at point guard, Spencer shot 6-of-10 from deep, added six boards and four assists, and made a compelling case to stick around. This was his final game under a two-way contract, but with two roster spots now open post-deadline, a full-time promotion feels inevitable.
Third-Quarter Troubles Return
But just like earlier in the week against the Sixers, the third quarter was a problem. The Warriors managed just 17 points in the period, and Phoenix took full advantage. Even without Devin Booker and Jalen Green, the Suns seized momentum and looked poised to cruise to a comfortable win.
When Collin Gillespie buried a three early in the fourth, Steve Kerr called timeout - and it felt like the game might be slipping away for good.
Defense, Hustle, and a Wild Finish
Offensively, the Warriors didn’t exactly catch fire late. But they locked in defensively and started chipping away.
The energy ramped up. The stops came in bunches.
And then the game flipped.
De'Anthony Melton tied things up in the final minute with a tough driving layup. On the next possession, Moses Moody came up huge, swatting Gillespie’s drive at the rim. That led to a leak-out and go-ahead bucket by Gui Santos, who continues to impress with his feel and poise.
Phoenix had a chance to steal it back. Dillon Brooks got a clean look at a step-back three, but it clanged off. Chaos ensued in the scramble for the rebound, but it ended with Melton - again - finishing at the rim as time expired.
Just like that, the Warriors had snatched a win out of thin air.
Key Contributors Step Up
- Pat Spencer: 20 points, 6-of-10 from three, 6 rebounds, 4 assists in 32 minutes. A career night and a timely one.
- Gui Santos: 18 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting. He continues to look like a long-term piece.
- De'Anthony Melton: 17 points, 3 steals, and two massive buckets in crunch time - not bad for his first start of the season.
- Gary Payton II: 15 points, 8 rebounds off the bench.
Classic GP2 energy and impact.
- Al Horford: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks.
The vet was a steadying presence in the paint.
But the real story? Defense.
Grit. And a refusal to fold.
What’s Next
Golden State heads to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Saturday night, with a chance to get Stephen Curry back in the lineup. Kristaps Porzingis, acquired at the trade deadline, is set to join the team Friday. Reinforcements are coming - and after a win like this, the Warriors might just be ready to make a push.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
Even without their stars, the Warriors showed they’re still capable of pulling off the improbable. And in a season that’s been anything but predictable, that could matter more than we think.