Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott highlighted his team’s second-half response in Thursday’s 99-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
“We were down seven and a half… easy to get frustrated especially cuz you’re not scoring the basketball or the offense just was clunky. But we stuck with it,” Ott said.
Ott emphasized Devin Booker’s impact in the third quarter. “Really good players, superstars, they find a way. We have ultimate confidence in him. He has ultimate confidence in himself… it was a great, great second half,” Ott noted after Booker scored 23 of his 25 points after halftime.
Dillon Brooks’ fourth-quarter flagrant foul did not overshadow his influence, according to Ott. “We love everything about D. We… follow his lead. We just have to get to the edge and not go over. We need him in the game,” Ott explained, praising Brooks’ first-half contributions and defensive presence.
Jordan Goodwin’s late-game heroics also drew attention from the coach. “Huge. Great trust in Goody being in there… end the game… his spirit really, really helps our group. We were going to crash the glass… and Goody was able to knock it in for the win,” Ott said.
Ott praised Collin Gillespie’s resilience despite contact in the second half. “Collin could have easily sat that one out… he makes an instant impact… just a wing winning basketball player,” Ott said, highlighting his ability to contribute on both ends.
Oso Ighodaro’s role as a defensive presence and possession gainer earned Ott’s recognition. “The five steals is massive… we’ve been on him about taking the ball… which he’s shown great growth since the middle of November. Tonight was his night,” Ott said.
The Suns overcame a 14-point deficit, outscoring Golden State 24-18 in the third quarter, with key contributions from Brooks, Booker, and Gillespie. Phoenix improved to 15-12, while Golden State fell to 13-15 after committing 20 turnovers.
Ott highlighted the importance of defensive discipline and managing fouls. “Dillon even in the third second quarter… plays to that line. We need him on the court. Thankfully he didn’t pick up an extra one,” Ott said, underscoring the balance between physical play and staying out of foul trouble.
Phoenix will visit Golden State on Saturday to complete the home-and-home series, aiming to build on their late-game resilience and capitalize on their second-half adjustments.
