Last-second free throw caps Suns' victory over Warriors
Dec 18, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Devin Booker scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half, Jordan Goodwin made a free throw with fourth-tenths of a second remaining, and the Phoenix Suns overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the visiting Golden State Warriors 99-98 on Thursday.
Dillon Brooks had 24 points, Collin Gillespie added 16 and Oso Ighodaro grabbed 13 rebounds for the Suns, who broke a two-game losing streak.
Jimmy Butler III logged 31 points while Brandin Podziemski had 18 for the Warriors, who have lost three in a row and nine of 13. Stephen Curry finished with 15 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the floor. He made just 2 of 9 attempts from 3-point range.
The Warriors led 60-46 early in the third quarter but trailed most of the fourth quarter before using a five-point play to tie the game at 96-96 with 36.3 seconds remaining.
After Booker made a jumper for a 96-91 lead with 1:30 remaining, Curry missed a 3-point attempt from the right corner with 38.3 seconds left. The play was reviewed in an attempt to determine possession, and after the review, Brooks was called for a flagrant-1 foul for hitting Curry in the stomach with his right hand on the missed shot.
Curry made two free throws and Butler hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to complete the five-point play and level the score.
Booker made a jumper with 31.2 seconds to go before Curry tied the game at 98 on two free throws with 21.7 seconds left.
Brooks missed a contested 3-pointer on the Suns' final possession, but Goodwin was fouled during a battle in the lane for the rebound and made the second two free throws.
Podziemski had 12 points in the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers, and Booker had 10 points in the period.
Neither team shot well. The Suns hit 40.9% from the floor, and the Warriors made 39.3% even though Butler wound up 11 of 17 and Podziemski finished 8 of 11.
The Suns scored 30 points on 21 Golden State turnovers. Phoenix amassed 16 steals (five from Ighodaro) and 22 fastbreak points.
The teams will meet in the second game of a back-to-back set on Saturday in San Francisco.
--Field Level Media
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