The Phoenix Suns lost to the Golden State Warriors 109-105. This is the second straight win for Phoenix after a victory on Christmas Day.

It was Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant’s first half show for the Suns as they combined for 40 points. Their intensity in the first three quarters left them gasping for air as they tried to close out the game, but they weren’t alone. Josh Okogie and Ryan Dunn elevated their performance with key defensive efforts and the ability to get the ball to the rim. Their contributions allowed Beal and Durant to stay fresh and continue to make an impact, giving the Suns the support they needed to keep the game exciting.

Both teams fought hard until the end, each looking for a much-needed win to break the .500 mark and secure their 16th win of the season. However, tonight it was the Warriors who ended up being a little stronger than the Suns and ultimately secured the win. Despite a valiant effort from Phoenix, Golden State’s late-game performance proved to be the difference.

Game flow

First half

Bradley Beal was absolutely on fire at the start of the game. Beal made up for a poor performance in his previous game, scoring 10 of the Suns’ first 12 points. The first quarter was played at a fast pace, with the Suns trying to keep up with the Warriors’ hustle and impressive shooting from behind the arc. This time the Suns managed to react better and stay competitive.

When Beal started missing a few shots, the Suns stagnated a bit and the focus was more on Kevin Durant fighting for his spot. We slowed the game down and then let the Warriors go on a 5-0 run to take a seven-point lead, giving them a 25-18 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter.

But the defense led by Durant and the Suns as a whole stood out and prevented the Warriors from gaining significant momentum on offense. A few key blocks and several tip passes disrupted the Warriors’ flow and prevented them from pulling away. Instead of falling behind by double digits, the Suns managed to stay within striking distance as their strong defensive performance helped offset their offensive woes.

At the end of the first quarter, the Suns trailed the Warriors 34-27, powered by a game-high 12 points from Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors dominated the interior and outscored the Suns 18-8, which proved to be a key factor in building their early lead.

The game was a one-point game due to the tireless effort of Josh Okogie, who consistently finished on the sidelines and gave the Suns crucial second chances. His eagerness and energy sparked the Suns’ comeback, tying the score early in the second quarter and changing the momentum in their favor. The Suns defense led to a strong offense.

In the sixth minute of the second quarter, Bradley Beal hit a three-pointer, bringing his total to 20 points for the game. The shot gave the Suns a three-point lead and showed Beal’s influence as a playmaker. With defenders double-teaming him, Beal skillfully found his teammates for easy balls, further elevating the Suns’ offense.

The Suns appeared poised to extend their lead to double digits after a 9-2 run, but Draymond Green had other plans. He caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down three straight three-pointers to narrow the deficit and trim the Suns’ lead to just two points.

Entering the half, the Suns maintained a 65-61 lead behind Durant and Beal, who combined for 40 points.

Second half

Trayce Jackson-Davis dominated the opening minutes of the third quarter, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor. He blocked shots, managed the fast break and secured crucial second-chance rebounds. Jackson-Davis scored the first seven points of the quarter, setting the tone for the Warriors and energizing his team.

The third quarter developed into a neck-and-neck race, characterized by tough defense and scoring problems on both sides. It was the lowest-scoring quarter of the game so far as both teams struggled from beyond the arc. With just three minutes left in the quarter, the Suns and Warriors had combined for just three three-pointers, underscoring the tough nature of the quarter.

The turnovers plagued the Suns in the third quarter and made it difficult for them to pull away from the Warriors. Six costly turnovers led to nine points for Golden State and kept the game exciting. However, the Suns regained some momentum in the final three minutes of the quarter. The return of Josh Okogie brought renewed energy and Oso Ighodaro made a significant impact with his clutch block. These plays helped the Suns end the quarter on a high note and brought a spark of confidence heading into the final frame.

Ryan Dunn, who finished off a quick counterattack, helped give this team even more momentum.

The Suns maintained their energy early in the fourth quarter, with Oso Ighodaro making his presence known inside and both Josh Okogie and Saben Lee providing excitement on the perimeter. Bradley Beal took full advantage by capitalizing on long shots while also contributing to the defense with key blocked shots. His all-around effort helped keep the Suns under control and set the decisive tone to open the final frame.

With 9:40 minutes left to play, the Suns were ahead 94:87.

The Suns’ rush was consistent through the first six minutes of the final quarter and was led by none other than Dunn.

Seven minutes before the end of the fourth quarter, the Suns became the first team to reach the 100-point mark and took a 100-91 lead. Their defense forced the Warriors into rushed three-point attempts, many of which missed. Buddy Hield in particular struggled from beyond the arc, failing to make a single three-pointer and missing all seven of his attempts to that point.

But with Kevin Durant struggling, the Warriors took advantage of a 4-0 run and quickly closed the gap. Sensing the changing momentum, the Suns called a timeout to regroup and keep the game from getting out of hand.

The Warriors turned that 4-0 run into an 11-0 run as the Suns continued to pass the ball. Suddenly the Suns looked exhausted and disorganized and unable to execute a clean offensive game. Their mistakes and lack of focus allowed Golden State to take control and keep the Suns on their heels.

The Warriors and Suns traded leads late into the night and left everything on the field until the final whistle.

When Durant took the shot to put the Suns up by one, he failed to put it through the bottom of the net and the Suns ultimately fell to the Warriors 109-105.

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Next

The Suns take on the Grizzlies at home on Tuesday night.