Devin Booker Drops 38, But Suns Let Lead - and Game - Slip Away to Warriors
Devin Booker came to play. The All-Star guard tied his season high with 38 points on Saturday night, torching the Warriors early and setting the tone for what looked like a statement win in San Francisco.
But as hot as Phoenix started, they couldn’t keep the fire burning. The Suns watched a 14-point lead melt away, and when the game tightened in the fourth, Golden State made the plays - and Phoenix didn’t.
The Warriors, coming off a three-game skid, needed this one. Stephen Curry delivered with a team-high 28 points, doing what he does best: hitting timely shots and keeping defenses honest with his movement. Jimmy Butler chipped in 25, giving Golden State a much-needed scoring punch to support Curry’s offensive gravity.
For the Suns, this one stings. Not just because they had control early, but because they had chances late.
Even after the Warriors clawed back and seized momentum, Phoenix had multiple opportunities down the stretch to tie or take the lead. They just couldn’t convert.
This wasn’t a case of Booker not getting help - though his 38-point outburst did much of the heavy lifting - it was more about the Suns’ offense losing its rhythm. The ball movement that created open looks in the first half started to stall, and Golden State’s defense tightened up. Credit the Warriors for adjusting, but Phoenix also left points on the table.
There were moments where it felt like the Suns might flip the script. A couple of defensive stops here, a made three there - the door was open.
But Golden State kept finding ways to shut it. Whether it was Curry pulling up from deep or Butler attacking mismatches, the Warriors made their possessions count when it mattered most.
This game also highlighted some lingering questions for Phoenix. Can they close out games against playoff-caliber teams on the road?
Can they maintain offensive flow when Booker isn’t single-handedly carrying the scoring load? And with another tough matchup looming on Tuesday, how quickly can they regroup?
The Suns have the talent, no doubt. But nights like this show just how thin the margins are in the West. One cold stretch, one missed rotation, one slip in execution - that’s all it takes to turn a potential win into a frustrating loss.
For now, Booker’s big night goes down as a footnote in a game the Suns let get away. The challenge now is turning that frustration into fuel. Because December may not define a season, but it sure can shape it.