Breaking: Devin Booker buried a cold-blooded three with 0.7 seconds left, and Phoenix stunned league-leading Oklahoma City 108-105. The shot tore the roof off a raucous Footprint Center, and it sent a clear message. The Suns can close against the best.
The Shot That Cut the Noise
With the game tied and the season’s pace humming, the Suns put the ball in Booker’s hands. Phoenix cleared out and trusted the star who has carried them through so many tight nights. Booker sized up his defender. He rocked back, created just enough space, and let it fly from deep. Pure. Timeout Thunder. The clock read 0.7.
Oklahoma City drew up a final look, but the desperation attempt fell short. Horn. Bedlam. Phoenix players swarmed Booker near midcourt, while the Thunder walked off with a rare reminder. In tight games, every small detail matters.
Final: Suns 108, Thunder 105. Booker nails the winner with 0.7 on the clock.
Phoenix Shows Its Late-Game Teeth
This is the win Phoenix needed, and it came in classic Suns fashion. Shot creation. Composed spacing. Smart defense on the last two possessions. Booker was the closer, but the structure around him mattered. Kevin Durant’s gravity drew help. The bigs set firm screens and then got off the ball. Role players stayed ready in the corners, which forced Oklahoma City to defend the full width of the floor.
Head coach Frank Vogel has pushed for stronger half-court habits. Tonight, those habits showed up. Phoenix kept its shape, avoided the wild pass, and hunted the best look. When you trust your star and protect the ball, the game slows on your terms. That is how you end droughts, and that is how you beat a top seed in crunch time.
Booker’s Poise, Booker’s Edge
Booker’s timing is back in rhythm. He mixed drives and pull-ups all night, never forcing shots early in the clock. When the moment came, he did not hesitate. He reset his feet, lifted clean, and followed through like he had rehearsed it a hundred times. Stars decide big games. Tonight, he decided it.
The Thunder Learn in the Fire
Oklahoma City arrived with the league’s best record and the confidence that comes with it. They play with fearless speed. They cut hard. They share the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets the tone with pace and patience, and Chet Holmgren changes shots at the rim. The Thunder have looked older than their years most nights.
But closing on the road is a different fight. Phoenix slowed their first option in the final minutes. The Thunder had to work deeper into the clock, and the rhythm that usually feeds their ball movement broke down. This is part of the climb for a young contender. You learn where the ball must go. You learn how to win ugly. Oklahoma City will take that film and live with it. They will be tougher for it.
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A Budding Western Rivalry
This matchup feels like May. Two teams with top-tier guards. Two systems that test your focus. Booker wants space to cook. SGA wants to bend the defense and slice. The crowds felt every jab step and every closeout. There is respect here, but there is also edge. If we get seven of these in the spring, clear your calendars.
Key Moments Down the Stretch
- Phoenix forced a switch, then kept the ball in front, which set up the winning possession.
- The Suns’ wings stayed home on shooters, daring OKC to hit tough two-point shots.
- A big defensive rebound by Phoenix kept the final sequence in their hands.
- Booker burned the clock, then pulled up without a double coming.
This result tightens the Western race and hints at matchups that could shape seeding. Every head-to-head could swing home court.
What It Means Right Now
For Phoenix, it is a statement about execution. The Suns have stars, but the difference tonight was discipline. They owned the details in the last 90 seconds. That wins in April and May. For the Thunder, it is a reminder that dominant stretches mean less than the last four minutes. Late-game clarity is a weapon. They will sharpen it.
The culture piece matters here too. Booker lives for these moments, and his teammates trust that. You can feel it in the way they clear out and talk on defense. You could feel it in the arena as the ball left his hand. On the other side, the Thunder never blinked. They stayed connected, even as the crowd surged. That is why this felt like a playoff game in winter.
The calendar will move, and both groups will evolve. But this finish will stick. It told us Phoenix can close against the class of the West. It told us Oklahoma City will be right there again the next time the game swings to a single shot. One look, one make, one message. Suns 108, Thunder 105. The West just got louder. 🏀
