Game ID: 22300308
Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 25 28 35 31 119GSW 25 31 31 29 116
GSW @ PHX ScoutingGSW @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 8 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 11/26, returns tonight: 37 min (111% of 33)
OUT Bol missed 11 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (117% of 13)
BACK Metu back 11/21 after 2, 12 min since (100% of 12)
NEW Gordon 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 16 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Beal missed 9 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 12 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 37 min since (111% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (117% of 13)
NEW Okogie 16 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/05 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 10 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 13 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 35 min since (93% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 35 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (116% of 13)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Okogie 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 11 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Metu missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 23 min (192% of 12)
OUT Bol missed 14 since 11/08, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 11)
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 36 min since (110% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (116% of 13)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 12 since 11/15, returns tonight: 27 min (81% of 34)
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 36 min since (110% of 33)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 23 min since (192% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 1 min since (8% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Okogie 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 14 to 19 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 18 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 12/13 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 12/08, returns tonight: 38 min (101% of 38)
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 24 min since (201% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 20 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 3 since 12/08, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 33)
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 38 min since (101% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 30 min since (90% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 23 min since (190% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Goodwin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (98% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 22 min since (65% of 34)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 36 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 20 min since (163% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 22 min since (65% of 34)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 34 min since (104% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/17 after 2, 30 min since (109% of 28)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 18 min since (146% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Quinones missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 35 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 33 min since (123% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 12 min since (106% of 11)
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wiggins missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 27 min (101% of 27)
OUT Paul missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 20 min (78% of 26)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 22 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 4 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 8 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 20 min since (78% of 26)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 5 since 11/28, returns tonight: 7 min (41% of 17)
OUT Payton II missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 9 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 32 min since (118% of 27)
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (111% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 20 min since (78% of 26)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 10 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (96% of 26)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 7 min since (41% of 17)
NEW Moody 18 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Joseph 11 to 17 min over the last 3
GSW availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 11 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 26 min since (100% of 26)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 6 min since (36% of 17)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/17 · back-to-backOUT Green missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 3 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 12 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 27 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 6 min since (36% of 17)
GSW availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 4 since 12/12, returns tonight: 6 min (54% of 11)
OUT Quinones missed 13 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 10 min since (59% of 17)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. Without Beal (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Jackson-Davis (5 straight), Payton II (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-0 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Golden State's 119. Call it Phoenix 116, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
12/01 vs DEN 111-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-119. PHX shot 46% (39 of 84) to DEN's 57%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 26 times to DEN's 12 — 24 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 43-32 for them. Nurkić led with 31 (13 of 22, 2 of 6 from three); Durant added 30, Gordon 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 11 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. Bates-Diop's -10 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs MEM 116-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 116-109. PHX shot 43% (36 of 83) to MEM's 45%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 43 times to MEM's 24 — 35 points from the stripe to their 22. Booker led with 34 (9 of 21, 3 of 8 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Durant added 27, Nurkić 14. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: PHX came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 16. PHX trailed 50-51 at the half and won the second half 66-58. Okogie was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/05 @ LAL 103-106 — PHX notes
PHX lost 103-106. PHX shot 49% (37 of 75) to LAL's 37%, 12 of 25 from three. PHX turned it over 20 times to LAL's 9, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. Durant led with 31 (12 of 17, 4 of 7 from three); Allen added 21, Booker 21. Q3 was theirs, 35-24, the deficit cut from 12 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 82-68 against them. Eubanks's -16 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs SAC 106-114 — PHX notes
PHX lost 106-114. PHX shot 48% (40 of 83) to SAC's 46%, 11 of 32 from three. The glass went 40-50 against them. Booker led with 28 (10 of 14, 6 of 9 at the line); Gordon added 19, Nurkić 15. Q2 was theirs, 33-26, but the other 3 periods went 88-73 against them. They led by as many as 11. Watanabe's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 vs GSW 119-116 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-116. PHX shot 45% (38 of 84) to GSW's 45%, 14 of 39 from three, and went to the line 34 times to GSW's 27 — 29 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 41-51 against them. Booker led with 32 (12 of 23, 3 of 6 from three); Nurkić added 17, Goodwin 16. The hinge was Q3, 35-31: PHX came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 1. PHX trailed 53-56 at the half and won the second half 66-60. Metu was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/13 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Durant (2 straight), Allen (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Simmons (15 straight), Smith Jr. (2 straight), Walker IV (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-8 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the line, where Phoenix takes 29 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 22. Call it Brooklyn 116, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/15 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 28 a game. Without Allen (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 126, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Randle at 29 and Brunson at 23 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to New York's 126. Call it Phoenix 117, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
12/17 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight), Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 133, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 118 a night to Washington's 133 and the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-3 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Phoenix 123, Washington 115.
12/19 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Henderson at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (2 straight), Mays (2 straight), Rupert (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 28 a game. Without Okogie (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 119 a night to Portland's 126 and the line, where Phoenix takes 27 free throws a game to Portland's 21. Call it Portland 117, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
11/30 vs LAC 120-114 — GSW notes
GSW won 120-114. GSW shot 50% (41 of 82) to LAC's 44%, 15 of 39 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAC's 24 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Curry led with 26 (8 of 15, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Thompson added 22, Kuminga 17. The hinge was Q1, 31-24: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Šarić was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/02 @ LAC 112-113 — GSW notes
GSW lost 112-113. GSW shot 44% (38 of 86) to LAC's 49%, 17 of 43 from three, and went to the line 24 times to LAC's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. Curry led with 22 (7 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Green added 21, Moody 21. Q1 was theirs, 33-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-79 against them. They led by as many as 22.
12/06 vs POR 110-106 — GSW notes
GSW won 110-106. GSW shot 42% (36 of 86) to POR's 41%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 16 — 28 points from the stripe to their 12. GSW turned it over 17 times to POR's 10, and POR turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 50-40 for them. Curry led with 31 (8 of 18, 5 of 13 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Šarić added 13, Kuminga 13. The hinge was Q4, 28-20: GSW came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 4. GSW trailed 48-55 at the half and won the second half 62-51. Kuminga was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/08 @ OKC 136-138 — GSW notes
GSW lost 136-138 in 1 overtime. GSW shot 47% (49 of 104) to OKC's 52%, 19 of 48 from three, and got to the line 23 times to OKC's 36. GSW turned it over 28 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 60-39 for them. Curry led with 34 (10 of 20, 6 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Kuminga added 24, Thompson 22. Q1 was theirs, 28-19, but the other 4 periods went 119-108 against them. They led by as many as 14.
12/12 @ PHX 116-119 — GSW notes
GSW lost 116-119. GSW took 8 more shots (92 to 84), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to PHX's 45%, 16 of 46 from three, and got to the line 27 times to PHX's 34. The glass went 51-41 for them. Curry led with 24 (8 of 24, 4 of 15 from three); Podziemski added 20, Kuminga 16. Q2 was theirs, 31-28, but the other 3 periods went 91-85 against them. They led by as many as 13. Wiggins's -19 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (7 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it the Clippers 118, Golden State 112.
12/16 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (6 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Thomas at 16 a game. Without Simmons (17 straight), Smith Jr. (4 straight), Walker IV (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 17 times a game to Brooklyn's 12. Call it Golden State 117, Brooklyn 115, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/17 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Simons at 28 and Sharpe at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Rupert (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Thompson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Green (2 straight), Payton II (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Portland minus-0 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 17 times a game to Portland's 12. Call it Golden State 117, Portland 116, Portland keeping it close.
12/19 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Green (3 straight), Payton II (8 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Golden State's 122 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-8 a night and Boston plus-1. Call it Boston 118, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
CM C. Metu
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
NU Nurkic
YW Y. Watanabe
GSWAW A. Wiggins
BP B. Podziemski
CP C. Paul
DG D. Green
DŠ D. Šarić
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
KT K. Thompson
MM M. Moody
SC S. Curry
SA Saric
TJ T. Jackson-Davis
PHX/GSW the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Booker scores 32, Suns hang on late to beat Warriors 119-116 on night Draymond Green ejected
PHOENIX -- — The Phoenix Suns finished another white-knuckle win in the final seconds, once again making a comfortable victory much more close than it probably should have been.
It's a trend that coach Frank Vogel is getting tired of quickly.
Devin Booker scored 32 points, Bradley Beal added 16 in his return from a back injury and the Suns held on late to beat the Golden State Warriors 119-116 on Tuesday night. The Suns nearly blew a nine-point lead in the final 1:30 before recovering.
“Yeah, we've got to stop doing that," Vogel said. “It's getting old ... That being said, we enjoy wins. That's a good win.”
Golden State's Draymond Green was ejected in the third quarter after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul for hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 24 points.
The Suns took an 88-87 lead into the fourth after Beal hit a baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds left. Phoenix used a 12-0 run — highlighted by Jordan Goodwin 's steal, pass and then reverse dunk by Booker — to push ahead 109-96 with about four minutes left.
The Warriors trailed 113-104 but rallied to cut the margin to 115-114 with 15 seconds left. Booker responded with two free throws to give the Suns a three-point lead and Curry missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing position.
“We have too many talented guys in this room to be doing that for the third or fourth time,” Booker said.
Beal followed with two free throws to finally put away the game. The Suns are 3-0 this season against the Warriors.
Booker shot 12 of 23 from the field and added seven assists. Nurkic finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
The third quarter was marred when Green was ejected for the 18th time in his career, most among active NBA players.
Green and Nurkic were battling for position early in the third when the two got tangled. The Golden State forward appeared to slightly lose his balance, but then inexplicably wheeled around and smacked Nurkic in the face.
Nurkic immediately crumpled to the ground but eventually got up and stayed in the game. The referees reviewed the play before calling Green for a Flagrant 2 foul, which causes an automatic ejection.
“That had nothing to do with basketball,” Nurkic said. “I'm just out there trying to play basketball.”
It’s been less than a month since Green was suspended five games by the NBA for putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert into a headlock during an altercation in November.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he hadn't seen a replay so didn't want to comment on the ejection, but he did say losing Green was a big blow.
“Huge swing,” Kerr said. “We felt good having him at the 5, spreading the floor. Obviously, that changed the lineup around.”
Beal played in just his fourth game of the season and his first since Nov. 12. The three-time All-Star has been dealing with a low back strain since October.
The Suns' big three of Booker, Beal and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant still hasn't played a game together this season. Durant missed his second straight game Tuesday with a left ankle sprain.
Golden State lost despite a huge game from the bench, which combined for 80 points. Brandin Podziemski , Moses Moody , Jonathan Kuminga , Chris Paul and Dario Saric all were in double figures. Podziemski had 20.
Curry hit a 3 with 2.5 seconds left before the break to give the Warriors a 56-53 halftime lead. Curry led Golden State with 16 points in the first half while Booker had 13 for the Suns.