With 32 points from Kevin Durant and 25 from Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors 123-115 on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to five games.
Midway through the third quarter, the Suns led by 23 points. However, the Warriors were able to narrow the margin to 118-115 with 19 seconds remaining following Durant’s technical foul. With 12.4 seconds remaining, Booker stopped the comeback with two free throws.
Both Durant and Booker shot 28/29 from beyond the arc.
The Warriors’ current season record is 7-9, as they have dropped seven of their last eight games.
Referee Scott Foster dismissed Golden State point guard Chris Paul upon his return to the desert from his two technical fouls for arguing late in the second quarter. Six points and six assists were his final tally.
Over the previous three seasons, Paul was an integral part of the Suns’ run to the 2021 NBA Finals. The 38-year-old was involved in the deal that sent Bradley Beal to the desert in the summer; he was later moved to the Warriors from the Wizards.
Paul was a 12-time All-Star, and the Suns honored him with a video before the game.
With 23 points, Klay Thompson paced the Warriors. Dario Saric scored 17 and Stephen Curry added 16.
Throughout the second half, Phoenix maintained a commanding lead. Midway through the third quarter, Eric Gordon made a free throw, increasing Phoenix’s advantage to 83-60. The Suns were content to take a 16-point advantage into the fourth quarter.
Strangely, both sides played primarily their bench players in the fourth quarter. As the Warriors mounted their last push, Curry and Thompson sat on the bench, and Suns coach Frank Vogel had no choice but to bring in Booker and Durant to finish the game.
In the first quarter, the Warriors led by 31 points, despite not having Draymond Green in the lineup due to his suspension. Thanks in part to three additional free throws awarded to the Suns in lieu of each of the Warriors’ technical fouls, the team swiftly rallied and led 63-47 at halftime.
