Devin Booker hit the game-winning three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-105 on Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center.
“Just trying to get the last shot,” Booker said of the play. “I knew a double was coming, so it was going to be hard to get in the paint. Just wanted to get it with the horn going off. Still didn’t do that, but we’ll take it.”
Booker emphasized the team’s belief in one another throughout the game. “We all believed in it. We came out with a big one tonight,” he said, reflecting on the Suns’ comeback from an 18-point deficit in the second quarter.
The Suns trailed 49-31 midway through the second but rallied behind Jordan Goodwin, who scored 26 points with eight three-pointers, and Dillon Brooks, who added 22. “Everybody works on this team and we believe in each other,” Booker said. “Sometimes it’s pass and then one more. I think Goody got a lot of those in the corner tonight.”
Booker also addressed his offensive perseverance despite a season-long slump from three-point range. “It’s tough. It’s all mental in this game,” he said. “Hopefully this can be the turning point and get that out of my head and make the shots that I shoot.”
The Suns’ offensive spacing and chemistry were key, Booker explained. “Just knowing the spacing, where the doubles coming in on the floor and where the advantage is on the backside,” he said. “Having multiple outlets when I get double, not just one person to pass it to.”
Booker highlighted the team’s resilience and trust in clutch situations. “We’ve fought ourselves back in the games, ended up losing at the end too. We just keep going,” he said. “That carries a team through a long season. I think it’s good stepping stones and building blocks for the playoffs.”
On playing against top defenders, including Alex Caruso in the final possession, Booker remained confident. “Yeah, pretty confident,” he said. “Imagination and workouts in the summer always come down to moments like that. I felt like I’ve been there before.”
Booker also praised the “next man up” mentality that allowed the Suns to thrive despite missing key players. “We miss those guys out there, but still all the way down the line, there are people who can knock down those shots that I trust,” he said.
Phoenix improved to 21-14 with the win, snapping Oklahoma City’s four-game streak. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points, while Jalen Williams added 23. The Suns visit Houston on Monday, and the Thunder host Charlotte.
