Golden State Warriors 122–131 Phoenix Suns: match recap

Match recap

Devin Booker erupted for 43 points and 7 assists, powering the Phoenix Suns past the short-handed Golden State Warriors 131-122. The Suns' home-floor advantage and balanced scoring offset a strong bench performance from Golden State.

Phoenix leaned on star power and depth, building an early lead they never surrendered. Booker was unstoppable, scoring from all three levels and drawing fouls at a high rate, while the Suns' supporting cast—Brooks Dillon, Miles Bridges, and Collin Gillespie—each contributed double-digit scoring. Golden State, missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Brandin Podziemski (all out per pregame reports), fought back behind Yaxel Lendeborg (26 points, 9 rebounds, 6 threes) and De'Anthony Melton (25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists off the bench). The Warriors controlled the glass (44-42) and outscored Phoenix's bench 46-36, but Phoenix's 33 assists to Golden State's 24 and superior three-point efficiency (37.8% vs. 43.6%) proved decisive. The game stayed competitive into the fourth quarter, but Phoenix's home-court composure and Booker's late-game shotmaking sealed it.

Key factors

• Devin Booker's 43-point explosion overwhelmed a depleted Warriors defense that had no answer for his scoring variety.
• Phoenix's ball movement (33 assists) created high-percentage looks and neutralized Golden State's defensive pressure.
• Golden State's bench outscored Phoenix's 46-36, but the Warriors' 24 assists vs. 33 for Phoenix reflected a lack of offensive flow in key moments.

The Analyst's take

Booker's superstar ceiling was the difference, but the injury-depleted Warriors showed they can score in bunches even without their stars — a statistical read that bodes well when Curry, Green, and Podziemski return. For Phoenix, the high assist rate and home chemistry are encouraging, though the 44 rebounds allowed to a short-handed frontline hint at a vulnerability against elite bigs. The numbers suggest both teams have offensive upside, but Phoenix's depth and ball movement give them better balance in close games.