Thunder Remain Unbeaten with Nail-Biting 123-119 Win Over Suns
The Phoenix Suns faced a bitter defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing 123-119 in a heated contest that concluded their NBA Cup group play with a 3-1 record. Despite the loss, the Suns are expected to advance to the knockout rounds, bolstered by a favorable point differential. Meanwhile, the Thunder completed their group stage undefeated at 4-0, showcasing their dominance throughout the tournament.
Game Highlights
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout performer, lighting up the scoreboard with 37 points and contributing eight assists. On the other side, Collin Gillespie shone for the Suns, netting 24 points—a personal season-high. The game featured intense back-and-forth action, with the Thunder at one point holding a 14-point lead in the second half, only to have the Suns rally and keep the outcome in doubt until the final moments.
First Quarter
Both teams came out firing, exchanging baskets from the tip-off. By the first timeout, the Suns trailed narrowly at 13-11, with just over seven minutes left in the quarter. Lu Dort and Devin Booker each contributed five points in the opening minutes, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. After a brief substitution period, the first quarter concluded with the score knotted at 25-25, despite the Suns struggling with early turnovers.
Second Quarter
In a surprising turn, Jamaree Bouyea, a two-way player for the Suns, emerged as an unexpected offensive spark, scoring nine quick points early in the quarter. This prompted the Suns to regain the lead, forcing the Thunder to call a timeout with Phoenix ahead 35-33 at the 7:45 mark. However, Oklahoma City responded with a swift 10-2 run. The Suns battled back, cutting a nine-point deficit to just four by halftime, trailing 56-52. Despite their efforts on the boards, out-rebounding the Thunder 29-20, the Suns struggled from beyond the arc, shooting a dismal 6-22 from three-point range.
Third Quarter
The Thunder came out of halftime with renewed energy, launching a 16-5 run that forced Suns coach Jordan Ott to call an early timeout. Oklahoma City’s reputation for explosive third quarters held true, as they built a lead of 83-71 with 2:53 left in the quarter. By the time the frame concluded, the Thunder maintained a comfortable 94-82 advantage, with both Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren scoring 22 points each, while Gillespie led the Suns with 16.
Fourth Quarter
Refusing to go quietly, the Suns opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, prompting Oklahoma City to regroup with a timeout. The momentum swung in Phoenix’s favor, quickly narrowing the deficit to just five points. With five minutes remaining, the score stood at 106-103. The Suns kept the pressure on, and after closing the gap to a single point, Jaylin Williams converted an and-one opportunity for the Thunder, which was quickly followed by a three-pointer from Royce O’Neale.
In a tense finish, the Suns found themselves down three with only 20 seconds left. Dillon Brooks had a chance to even the score but missed the open look. After Chet Holmgren managed to hit one of two free throws on the other end, Gillespie scored a layup, bringing the Suns within two at 121-119 with 14.1 seconds on the clock. A near steal by Phoenix was thwarted, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to seal the game with two successful free throws, pushing the Thunder’s lead to four.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Suns were left to reflect on a hard-fought battle while preparing to head back home for a matchup against the Denver Nuggets in the second leg of their back-to-back schedule.
