Last night’s game was rough. That almost undersells it. The Suns came in with momentum, and even without Devin Booker or Jalen Green, there was a real opportunity to grab a win against a Pacific Division opponent. Instead, for the third time in four meetings with Golden State this season, they let it slip.
And the hardest part to ignore was this: they were outcoached. Clearly. In the fourth quarter, yes. But also in the first half, where the tone was set and never fully corrected. This was a game
that asked for clarity and control, and the Suns never quite found either when it mattered most.
Golden State came out with a clear plan in the first half. Let it fly. They took 37 threes, made 15 of them, and carried a lead into halftime. The Suns answered the way they usually do after the break. The third quarter flipped the game. They outscored the Warriors 27 -17 and pushed the margin to 14 early in the fourth.
And then everything unraveled.
The offense went stagnant. The ball stuck. Dribble, dribble, dribble, then a bailout shot late in the clock. Meanwhile, an undermanned Warriors team, without Stephen Curry, without Jimmy Butler, and fresh off trading away three rotation players, played with freedom. The ball moved. Bodies moved. They scored in transition, scoring 7 fast break points in the fourth alone.
Golden State turned the ball over six times in the fourth. The Suns scored three points off those mistakes. Missed chances. No punishment.
Then came the lineup decisions. Oso Ighodaro played the entire fourth quarter while Mark Williams, who was having a solid game, stayed glued to the bench. It felt like a substitution never came.
Oso brings value as an isolation defender, but offensively, he pulls no gravity. When he stands on the perimeter, defenders sag. Pressure shifts elsewhere. Lanes shrink.
And it showed. Al Horford, of all people, led the Warriors with 7 points in the fourth. Teams are no longer respecting Oso on offense, and more are willing to test him on the other end. That was the breaking point. Control turned into chaos. Structure gave way to isolation. And in a game the Suns had in their hands, they let it slip through their fingers.
The Suns outsmarted themselves and watched the Warriors close the night on a 24-7 run. It is not the worst loss of the season, that still belongs to Atlanta, when a 22-point fourth-quarter lead evaporated. But this one stings in a different way. Because of the timing. Because of the standings. Because of the opportunity sitting right there, waiting to be taken. The Suns had control. Then they gave it back. And losses like that linger longer than most.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Collin earned #9 after that showing in Rip City!
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 52 against the Warriors. Here are your nominees:
Dillon Brooks
24 points (10-of-24, 2-of-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -6 +/-
Grayson Allen
21 points (7-of-17, 5-of-13 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +4 +/-
Mark Williams
11 points (5-of-6), 10 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, +6 +/-
Collin Gillespie
11 points (4-of-12, 3-of-10 3PT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -10 +/-
Royce O’Neale
9 points (3-of-7, 3-of-6 3PT), 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 turnover, -5 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
6 points (2-of-6, 2-of-6 3PT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, +7 +/-
Second late game in a week. Who is worthy after last night’s performance?
