SAN FRANCISCO — As Devin Booker’s final 41-foot desperation heave went awry at the final buzzer, the Phoenix Suns left Chase Center with a 119-116 loss on Saturday to the Golden State Warriors after a red-hot start.
“They played a tougher game, made shots towards the end,” Suns forward Dillon Brooks said. “We had too many mishaps in the fourth quarter to give them the lead and try to come back.”
The Suns (15-13) upended the Warriors (14-15) two nights earlier, 99-98, on Thursday at home.
Here are takeaways as Phoenix gets ready to take on the Los Angeles Lakers for the third time this month, 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Red-hot start for Suns
It looked early as if Phoenix was going to run away in the rematch.
The Suns brought their usual fight and competitive spirit, even in an environment that can be overwhelming in reaction.
The Suns started hot from 3. Like Johnny Storm 6-for-10 hot.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center right, passes the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during the first half in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
Brooks repeatedly muted the usual sellout crowd of 18,064 with a 5-of-5 opening from the field, and Booker was stirring up the ingredients to a game-high, 38-point night.
The Suns wound up only having to deal with Draymond Green for 8 minutes as he was ejected early after two quick technical fouls in the second quarter.
All Phoenix needed to do was continue to build on that 44-point first quarter on 70.8% shooting and create even greater separation after leading by as many as 14 points.
The Suns didn’t.
Ott questions decision on big man
They instead didn’t value every possession and had miscommunications on defense.
Suns coach Jordan Ott probably didn’t give Mark Williams enough burn, either.
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) goes up to dunk during the first half against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
The 7-footer only logged 18 minutes, scoring just four points, while Oso Ighodaro played 30, but he didn’t move the needle like the previous game when posting a career-high 13 rebounds and five steals.
Ighodaro finished with 10 points and seven rebounds just on the defensive glass as Golden State feasted on the offensive boards with 17 that led to 26 second-chance points.
“I'm not sure it was the right decision,” Ott said. “We'll have to evaluate it. We love what Mark does. These guys put you in a little bit of tough spots, especially because (Trayce) Jackson-Davis comes in right when Oso really is making a sub for Mark in the first and third quarters. We tried to change some things anticipating that, but we'll look because we need (Williams) on the floor. Definitely need him on the floor on both ends."
Ott probably stuck with his defensive lineup of Collin Gillespie, Jamaree Bouyea, Jordan Goodwin, Ryan Dunn and Ighodaro a tad too long in the first half.
He’s been beyond good so far as a first-year coach.
As Ott says about his players, he’ll be better, too.
Non-call baffles Booker
The Suns cooled down considerably from distance, going 6 of 25 in the final 36 minutes.
They fell behind by as many as 11 points in the fourth, rallied like clockwork, but Booker is probably still somewhere baffled about intentionally fouling Steph Curry and no whistle.
He instead watched Curry score to give him a team-high 28 points with 5.7 seconds left to put the Warriors up three after being limited to 15 two days earlier.
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) shoots against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
“It's poor,” Booker said. “Seconds like that matter. We would've got the ball back with a little more time, more time to make a play. It was just missed.”
Warriors rookie Will Richard cooks Suns
Golden State overcame another barrage of turnovers. Phoenix scored 24 points off 21 Warriors turnovers after generating 30 points off 20 Golden State turnovers in the previous game.
Jimmy Butler scored 25 points on 21 shot attempts, and Will Richard came off the bench to deep fry the Suns with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 19 minutes.
Richard finished 4 of 4 from 3 with two coming in the third quarter when Phoenix outscored Golden State, 29-20, to take a 93-87 lead going into the fourth.
The rookie’s basket to end the first half may have been his biggest of the night.
With Phoenix leading by seven, Brooks fouled De’Anthony Melton on a 3 with 0.4 seconds left in the first half.
Melton made the first two, missed the third, but Richard followed with a midair catch-and-release floater that dropped to cut Phoenix’s advantage to three points at the half.
The Suns could’ve reached halftime up seven.
Third quarter dooms Suns
Phoenix shot just 5-of-21 from the field in the third and had no answer for Butler, who scored 12 points in the quarter.
The Suns responded as they have all season, going on a 13-6 run to slice Golden State’s lead to four, 109-105 with 2:25 left.
Booker scored 12 of his 38 in the fourth, but Curry topped him with 14 in the quarter.
'I got to make that shot'
The Warriors were up seven with 1:44 left.
The Suns pulled within two points twice after that, with Gillespie having a chance to put them ahead on a corner 3 off a Booker extra pass, but he misfired with 18.4 seconds left.
“I was wide open, I got to make that shot,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie nailed the next one to make the difference one with 10.9 seconds remaining, but this is when Booker tried to foul Curry, and the referees didn’t call it.
Curry scored. The Suns didn’t execute that final possession.
Royce O’Neale mishandled a Gillespie pass. Booker tracked down and tried to two-hand hoist over his head from 41 feet, which went awry.
