Chaos, Ejections, and a Rookie Hero: How the Warriors Survived the Suns 119-116

We’ve seen this movie before in the Bay Area: Draymond Green gets tangled up, the whistles blow, the frustration mounts, and suddenly, the Warriors are staring down the barrel of a long night.

When Green was ejected just over 10 minutes into the first half for shoving Collin Gillespie and arguing the call, the energy in the arena shifted. It was the second straight game against Phoenix that felt more like a cage match than a basketball game. With Jonathan Kuminga out sick and Buddy Hield’s iron-man streak of 199 games snapped, the rotation was thin. The vibes were tense. The losing streak was at three games.

But instead of folding, Golden State dug deep, finding salvation in the most unlikely of places before their superstars closed the door. The Warriors scraped by with a 119-116 victory over the Suns, but the final score doesn’t tell half the story of how weird—and essential—this win actually was.

Warriors Find a Spark in Will Richard

You probably didn’t have Will Richard on your bingo card for “Player of the Game,” and honestly, neither did the Suns. But Steve Kerr’s rotation shake-up massively paid dividends. With the team desperate for offense and stability after the Green ejection, Richard stepped onto the floor and looked like a ten-year vet.

The rookie was nothing short of spectacular, pouring in 20 points in just 19 minutes of action. He was efficient, going 6-of-7 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from deep. It wasn’t just that he scored; it was when he scored. Every time Phoenix threatened to run away with the momentum, Richard was there to hit a stabilizer.

Kerr noted post-game that he had been transparent with the rookie, telling him to stay ready. Richard didn’t just stay ready; he seized the moment. In a season where the Warriors are fighting for every inch in the standings, finding a diamond in the rough who can contribute in high-pressure minutes is exactly the kind of “human element” boost a locker room needs.

Curry and Butler Take Over in Crunch Time

While the rookie kept them afloat, the legends brought them home. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler reminded everyone why you pay the big money for closers.

Curry, who finished with a team-high 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, was absolute ice in the fourth quarter. He scored 14 of his points in the final frame, constantly probing the Suns’ defense and getting to the line, where he went 5-of-6.

But it was the chemistry with Butler that really stood out. Butler, chipping in 25 points, provided the grit that the Warriors sometimes lack when Draymond isn’t on the floor. The sequence that defined the game happened with just over a minute left. After Jordan Goodwin hit a massive three to bring the Suns within two, the pressure was suffocating. Butler responded immediately, driving hard for a layup and drawing the foul for a three-point play that gave Golden State breathing room.

It was a perfect balance: Curry’s finesse and shooting, paired with Butler’s downhill aggression.

Bad Blood Between Warriors and Suns Continues

This game wasn’t played in a vacuum. It was the second meeting in three days, and the bad blood from Thursday’s narrow loss in Phoenix clearly traveled with the teams. The physical play was jarring.

Draymond Green’s ejection was the headline, stemming from consecutive technicals, but the chippiness was everywhere. Steve Kerr even picked up a technical defending Green, arguing that the officiating wasn’t consistent regarding physical play—specifically pointing out Dillon Brooks’ aggressive style.

Brooks, playing the villain role he loves so much, put up 22 points for the Suns, but he was constantly in the middle of the skirmishes. At one point, Trayce Jackson-Davis committed a hard offensive foul on Brooks that sent a clear message: the Warriors weren’t going to be pushed around.

Devin Booker did everything he could to spoil the night for the home crowd, erupting for 38 points. He nearly willed Phoenix back into it, but his pull-up three at the buzzer to force overtime didn’t fall.

What This Win Means for the Warriors

At 14-15, the Warriors are still trying to find their identity this season. Snapping a three-game skid was mandatory, especially with a tough matchup against Orlando looming on Monday.

This wasn’t a pretty, artistic victory. It was a grind. It required overcoming their own emotional volatility and relying on a rookie to play the game of his life. But in the NBA, you don’t ask “how,” you just ask “how many.”

For one night, despite the chaos, the ejection, and the injuries, the Warriors found a way. And sometimes, those ugly, gritty wins are the ones that turn a season around.