The Phoenix Suns weren’t about to let history repeat itself. They had already taken an embarrassing loss to the eight-win Charlotte Hornets on the road last week. Falling to them again, this time on their home court? No way. Not today.
Before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at the Footprint Center, the Suns stormed to a thrilling 120-113 victory over the Hornets. And they didn’t just win—they made a statement. The game’s last two minutes and five seconds showcased a fierce 9-0 Suns run that turned the tide and sealed their third consecutive win. That’s right—Phoenix is starting to heat up again.
Big Names Delivering Big Moments
Devin Booker was, as always, the heart of the action. Dropping 30 points, he led Phoenix (19-19) to its first three-game winning streak since their blazing 8-1 start. Kevin Durant wasn’t far behind with 27 points, and Bradley Beal added a solid 15 while stepping up in the clutch. Grayson Allen chipped in 13 points before leaving in the second half with left knee soreness.
On the other side, LaMelo Ball did his best to keep the Hornets (8-28) afloat, finishing with 25 points and 11 assists. But it wasn’t enough to fend off a Suns squad that’s finding its rhythm again.
Final 1:22 – The Turning Point
Let’s talk about those last 82 seconds, which were packed with drama and heroics. Booker capped the Suns’ decisive 9-0 run with two cold-blooded free throws, leaving just 28.2 seconds on the clock. Moments later, Beal put the exclamation point on the game by dribbling out the final seconds after swatting away a late 3-point attempt by Ball.
But here’s where things get even more exciting: Guess who scored the first seven points of that crucial run? A rookie and someone fresh off an injury. Oso Ighodaro tied the game at 113-113 with an emphatic dunk off Booker’s eighth assist. Then, Booker forced a steal, Durant found Ighodaro again on the baseline, and just like that, Phoenix was up by two with 1:22 remaining.
The Suns weren’t done. Booker snagged a defensive rebound, which led to Royce O’Neale—back after recovering from an ankle sprain—draining a clutch corner 3-pointer. Timeout, Charlotte. The crowd was electric.
Out of the timeout, rookie Ryan Dunn grabbed a key defensive board after a Hornets miss, and the Suns kept the momentum rolling. Booker hit his free throws, Beal blocked Ball, and the Suns locked it up. Ball game.
Digging Deeper on Defense
What really stood out was the Suns’ effort on the defensive end. Last week, Charlotte embarrassed them on the boards, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points. This time, Phoenix tightened the screws.
Sure, the Hornets still managed 15 offensive rebounds for 26 points, but the Suns made the critical stops when it mattered most. In the fourth quarter, Charlotte was held to just two offensive rebounds, resulting in a mere three second-chance points.
Devin Booker and Bradley Beal both grabbed three defensive rebounds in the fourth, with Durant chipping in two more. Even with Jusuf Nurkic sidelined by illness, the Suns dug deep, showing that a full-team effort on the boards is non-negotiable—especially when playing small ball.
It’s no secret that defense has been the Suns’ Achilles’ heel. They’ve struggled to defend the drive and have been crushed on the offensive glass. But on Sunday, against a young and reckless Charlotte team, Phoenix showed signs of improvement. They held the Hornets to just 28.6% shooting in the fourth quarter, including a woeful 1-of-6 from deep. LaMelo Ball alone went 0-for-4 from beyond the arc during that stretch.
Bradley Beal: The Closer Phoenix Needed
Now, here’s where the irony comes in. Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer made headlines last week when he benched both Beal and Nurkic from the starting lineup. Beal, ever the professional, has taken it in stride.
He’s leaned on his faith and kept grinding, playing over 30 minutes a game and delivering in crunch time. Sunday night was no exception. Beal subbed in with 6:48 left in the third quarter—and didn’t sit for the rest of the game. That’s nearly 18 straight minutes of action.
In the fourth, Beal and Durant were indispensable. Beal’s presence on both ends of the floor helped Phoenix close the game, including a critical block on Ball late in the final seconds. His chemistry with Booker and Durant is still a work in progress, but moments like these show why the Suns need him on the floor in big moments.
What’s Next for the Suns?
With this win, the Suns are heading into a five-game road trip, starting with a matchup in Atlanta on Tuesday. They recently beat the Hawks at home, so confidence should be high.
While their offense is clearly in sync—Booker, Durant, and Beal are a dangerous trio—defense remains the X-factor. If they can consistently rebound as a team and tighten up on the defensive end, this season could turn into something special.
The Suns have the talent. They have the firepower. Now, it’s about bringing it all together—and Sunday’s gritty win over Charlotte might just be the spark they needed.
Login