When two of the most electrifying teams in the NBA share a court, expectations come with weight. Not just from the fans or analysts, but from the legacy each team carries. The Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns have both tasted postseason tension, and when they clashed this time around, it wasn’t just another box score to scroll past—it was a reflection of where each franchise stands now.
The Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns match player stats didn’t just tell the story of points and assists. They revealed timing, trust, and how stars respond when everything slows down in the fourth. From Stephen Curry’s off-ball movement to Devin Booker’s late-game discipline, every player’s numbers wove into the greater arc of the contest.
This wasn’t just about who scored most—it was about who did the right thing at the right time. That’s what makes this NBA matchup so revealing.
The Opening Quarter: Finding Footing in the Spotlight
Both teams entered this game with urgency in their body language. Golden State immediately ran their signature motion offense, making defenders chase Curry around multiple screens. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, veterans of the system, slid into their roles fluidly. Curry found his rhythm early, drilling a three from deep with a screen from Looney that caught the Suns flat-footed.
Phoenix responded with a slower, more surgical approach. Booker and Durant ran a two-man action that gave Golden State trouble from the jump. Every possession seemed designed to get one clean look—and more often than not, they got it. Durant, with his effortless footwork, buried two early mid-range jumpers that looked casual but hit like daggers.
The first quarter was tight. Neither side gave ground. By the end of the first, the stat sheet read even, but the tone had been set. This would be a game of inches, not blowouts.
Standout 1st Quarter Stats:
- Stephen Curry: 9 points, 2 assists, 3-of-5 shooting
- Kevin Durant: 8 points, 3 rebounds
- Devin Booker: 6 points, 3 assists
- Klay Thompson: 5 points, 2 rebounds
Second Quarter: Bench Energy, Momentum Swings
The second quarter belonged to the benches—and it revealed the depth each team leans on. For Golden State, Jonathan Kuminga brought instant impact. His energy on both ends kept the pace up, and his physical drives forced Phoenix to collapse inside. Meanwhile, Gary Payton II disrupted the Suns’ rhythm defensively with his hands and lateral movement.
Phoenix countered with Beal and Gordon off the bench. Beal showed glimpses of what makes him so dangerous—he attacked closeouts and created off the bounce. While his shooting wasn’t perfect, his presence made Golden State’s defense shift, opening lanes for others.
It was also in this quarter that Jusuf Nurkić began asserting himself on the boards. Golden State’s usual success with second-chance points was muted by Nurkić’s rebounding and physicality. His screens also freed Booker for a few clean looks as the Suns slowed the tempo and imposed their preferred pace.
Key 2nd Quarter Stats:
- Bradley Beal: 10 points, 2 assists
- Kuminga: 7 points, 2 rebounds
- Nurkić: 6 rebounds, 1 block
- Curry: 6 points in the quarter, bringing his total to 15
Phoenix led by three at halftime. Not because they outshot Golden State, but because they controlled possessions. Fewer mistakes, smarter fouls, and patient ball movement gave them the edge.
Third Quarter: Runs, Stops, and the Curry Effect
If you’ve watched enough NBA basketball, you know Golden State makes their move in the third. This time was no different. Curry opened the half with a deep three, then a quick cut to the basket for an off-ball layup assisted by Green. In two minutes, Golden State flipped the score.
Phoenix, however, didn’t unravel. They adjusted. Okogie was switched onto Curry, fighting over every screen and forcing the Warriors into late-clock possessions. Durant, in response to the shifting energy, took over the offense for several minutes. He scored on back-to-back possessions—one a pull-up from the elbow, the other a spinning fadeaway that felt like a message: not tonight.
What kept the game close wasn’t just scoring. It was defensive stops. Draymond intercepted a pass intended for Beal and immediately pushed in transition. Booker, who had been relatively quiet, responded with a critical corner three and followed it with a step-back two over Thompson.
At the end of three, the Suns were clinging to a one-point lead. But the Warriors had momentum, and Chase Center was loud.
End of 3rd Quarter Standouts:
- Stephen Curry: 10 points in the quarter, total 25
- Kevin Durant: 9 points, bringing him to 20
- Devin Booker: 7 points, including two assists on crucial possessions
- Draymond Green: 4 assists, 2 steals, controlling the tempo
Fourth Quarter: The Breakdown and the Brilliance
This is where it got tense. Not flashy, not frantic. Just hard, deliberate basketball. Both teams slowed down, valuing each possession. Every pass mattered. Every cut was contested. It became less about individual highlights and more about trust in systems.
Golden State tried to free Curry with double off-ball screens. Phoenix responded with switches and timely help defense. When Curry finally got loose and hit a contested three, it felt like the spark the Warriors needed. But Durant immediately answered with a turnaround from the left wing that felt like it drained the air out of the building.
With three minutes left, the game was tied. Curry had 31. Durant had 26. Booker, not forcing anything, found Nurkić inside for a drop-step bucket, then hit a pull-up from the baseline.
Golden State’s last two minutes were a scramble. Thompson missed a clean look. Green drove and lost the ball on a strip by Beal. The final play? Curry trapped in the corner, found Looney too late—his floater bounced twice, then off.
Final Score: Phoenix Suns 112 – Golden State Warriors 108
Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats (Final)
Warriors Stats:
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3PT% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | 33 | 4 | 6 | 50% | 46% | 2 |
| Klay Thompson | 18 | 3 | 1 | 43% | 38% | 1 |
| Draymond Green | 6 | 7 | 8 | 38% | 0% | 3 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 12 | 5 | 2 | 47% | 33% | 1 |
| Kevon Looney | 7 | 10 | 2 | 55% | — | 0 |
Suns Stats:
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3PT% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | 28 | 6 | 3 | 55% | 41% | 1 |
| Devin Booker | 25 | 4 | 6 | 51% | 39% | 1 |
| Bradley Beal | 17 | 3 | 3 | 44% | 37% | 2 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 11 | 14 | 2 | 50% | — | 1 |
| Eric Gordon | 8 | 1 | 1 | 40% | 33% | 0 |
What This Game Really Told Us
This wasn’t about dominance. It was about sustainability. Phoenix looked like a team that could weather storms—not by overpowering, but by executing. They didn’t lose their structure when Golden State ran. They didn’t panic when Curry got hot. They trusted their timing, and it paid off.
Golden State? Still dazzling in stretches. Still dangerous when Curry gets cooking. But there’s a gap when he sits or gets smothered. The system works, but the margin for error has narrowed. They’ll need consistent support from the rest of the rotation to stay elite across four quarters.
From a Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns match player stats perspective, this game was as balanced as it was brutal. Both sides had their moments. Phoenix just had more of them when it counted most.
