In a captivating season opener, the Phoenix Suns secured a hard-fought 108-104 victory against the Golden State Warriors, with Devin Booker delivering a sensational 32-point performance.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, and it remained a one-point contest in the Suns’ favor until the closing minutes. Devin Booker displayed his versatility by providing three crucial assists down the stretch to seal the victory.
With 1:09 left on the clock, Booker found Josh Okogie in the left corner for a critical 3-pointer, extending the Suns’ lead to 103-99. The Warriors fought back as Stephen Curry made two free throws, but Booker responded with another remarkable play, drawing the defense and setting up Eric Gordon for a game-changing 3-pointer. This extended the lead to five points with just 44.7 seconds remaining.
Despite the Warriors’ determined efforts, Curry’s late 3-pointer brought them within two points at 106-104 with 31.4 seconds left. However, after a timeout, the ball ended up in Booker’s hands again, and he orchestrated a crucial assist to Jusuf Nurkic for a layup, securing the game’s final points with 10.3 seconds on the clock.
Booker’s contributions went beyond scoring, as he also tallied eight assists in the game. Notably, he played without his new backcourt partner, Bradley Beal, who was sidelined with a back injury.
Kevin Durant recorded a double-double for the Suns with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jusuf Nurkic contributed a double-double of his own, notching 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Josh Okogie played a crucial role by delivering 17 points, including the critical late 3-pointer. Eric Gordon, despite a slow start from beyond the arc, added 10 points off the bench.
The Suns outscored the Warriors 33-30 in 3-pointers, even attempting 10 fewer shots from long range (43-33).
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, although he missed 10 of his 14 attempts from 3-point range. Klay Thompson added 15 points, Chris Paul contributed 14 points along with a game-high nine assists, and Jonathan Kuminga provided 12 points off the bench. The Warriors were missing Draymond Green, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Phoenix took a 15-point lead by halftime, thanks in large part to Devin Booker’s 21 points in the first half. However, the Warriors mounted a strong comeback in the third quarter, with a remarkable 21-2 run that propelled them to a 73-66 lead with 5:00 remaining until the fourth quarter.
