Warriors Edge Suns in Gritty Finish, 101-97
PHOENIX - In a game that came down to execution in the final minute, the Phoenix Suns couldn’t quite carry over the momentum from Tuesday night, falling 101-97 to the Golden State Warriors in a tightly contested matchup that saw both teams trade blows until the very end.
This one was a grind from the opening tip. Neither side could string together a sustained run in the first half, and the scoreboard reflected that back-and-forth energy. Fouls were few and far between - just five total free throw attempts in the half - and the game had the feel of two teams trying to out-execute rather than overpower.
For the Suns, Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen came out aggressive and set the tone early. Brooks poured in 15 points in the first half, while Allen added 13 of his own, attacking mismatches and getting into rhythm quickly.
But Golden State, playing without Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, didn’t blink. Pat Spencer and Gary Payton II stepped into the scoring void, combining for 25 points and keeping the Warriors within striking distance.
The difference in the first half? The three-ball.
Golden State leaned heavily on perimeter shooting, and while the volume was high - 15-of-47 from deep - it was enough to give them a 59-55 edge at the break. Phoenix, meanwhile, was more selective from beyond the arc, going 7-of-21.
The second half opened with a quick 7-1 Warriors burst, threatening to pull away, but Allen and Royce O’Neale responded with back-to-back threes to steady the ship. Then came Phoenix’s best stretch of the night - a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter, sparked by energy plays from Collin Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea. That surge gave the Suns a 14-point cushion, and it looked like they might finally create some separation.
But Golden State wasn’t done. As the game tightened up, so did the defense, and the physicality ramped up. After just five free throws combined in the first half, the second half saw 26 attempts as both teams started playing through contact.
Down the stretch, the Warriors clawed back and tied the game at 97 with just over a minute remaining. Then, with the clock winding down, Gui Santos made a tough, running layup to give Golden State the lead.
Phoenix had a chance to answer, but Brooks’ three-point attempt missed the mark. The Warriors secured the rebound, added another layup in the final seconds, and walked away with the win.
There were still some bright spots for the Suns - including a highlight-reel block from Mark Williams on Brandin Podziemski that brought the crowd to its feet - but ultimately, the late-game execution favored Golden State.
Now, Phoenix will regroup quickly as they prepare to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. local time.