Pat Spencer scored a career-high 20 points and Gui Santos added 18 to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 101-97 comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Warriors erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, capped by De’Anthony Melton’s layup as time expired after Gary Payton II secured the rebound on Dillon Brooks’ missed three-pointer.
Phoenix led 82-76 entering the fourth, and Collin Gillespie pushed the advantage to 90-76 early in the quarter with back-to-back three-pointers, but Golden State methodically chipped away at the lead.
Melton’s layup tied the game at 97 with 55.8 seconds remaining, and Santos’ fast-break score gave the Warriors a 99-97 lead with 28.7 seconds left, which they held until the final buzzer.
Brooks led the Suns with 24 points, while Grayson Allen added 21 before leaving late in the fourth with a right knee injury. Phoenix made just six field goals in the fourth quarter, scoring only 15 points in the period.
The Suns were also without Devin Booker (ankle) and Jalen Green (hamstring/hip), while Golden State played without Stephen Curry (knee) and newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis, who is expected to join the team Friday but likely will not play Saturday.
Spencer made five three-pointers and scored 15 points before halftime as the Warriors held a 59-55 lead at the break, despite attempting 37 threes in the first half.
Other contributors for Golden State included Moses Moody with six points, Melton with 17, and Draymond Green adding five points, five rebounds, and seven assists in 24 minutes of action.
Golden State shot 43 percent from the field, including 36 percent on three-pointers, and converted 75 percent of free throws, while Phoenix finished 46 percent overall and 37 percent from deep.
The Warriors will visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, while the Suns host the Philadelphia 76ers, both looking to maintain momentum in a competitive Western Conference.
