Booker’s Buzzer-Beater Lift Suns Past OKC in Thriller 108-105

The ghosts of December 10th were swirling around the Footprint Center early on Sunday night. The Phoenix Suns, facing the same Oklahoma City squad that had handed them a franchise-worst 49-point beating just weeks prior, found themselves in a familiar, sinking feeling. The rim looked closed; the Thunder looked inevitable.

But basketball is rarely a straight line, and redemption often arrives when you least expect it.

In a game that swung from potential blowout to gritty slugfest, it was Devin Booker—amidst a season-long shooting slump from deep—who delivered the final dagger. With 0.7 seconds on the clock and the game tied at 105, Booker caught the inbounds pass, rose over the outstretched arms of defensive ace Alex Caruso, and buried a 3-pointer that sent the Phoenix crowd into a frenzy.

The 108-105 victory didn’t just snap Oklahoma City’s four-game winning streak; it proved that these Suns possess the resilience required to stand toe-to-toe with the NBA’s elite.

A Shot at Redemption for the Suns

To understand the weight of this win, you have to look at the scars. That 138-89 loss in Oklahoma City wasn’t just a defeat; it was a humiliation. When the Thunder raced out to a 24-9 lead in the first quarter on Sunday, hitting shots with surgical precision while Phoenix missed their first eight attempts from downtown, the narrative seemed written.

However, Phoenix refused to fold. They closed the first half on a fierce 11-0 run, cutting a daunting lead down to a manageable 49-42 at the break. It was a grimy, defensive effort that allowed them to hang around long enough for their offense to wake up.

By the time Ryan Dunn hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to give Phoenix a 71-70 lead—their first since the opening minutes—the energy in the building had shifted entirely. This wasn’t a team intimidated by the 30-6 Thunder anymore. They were the aggressors.

The Unexpected Heroism of Jordan Goodwin

While Booker hit the shot seen ’round the world, he wasn’t the sole reason the Suns were in a position to win. That honor belongs to Jordan Goodwin.

On a night when the offense could have easily stagnated, Goodwin played the game of his life. Coming off the bench to ignite the second unit, he poured in 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting. But it was his perimeter shooting that stunned the Thunder defense. Goodwin knocked down a career-high eight 3-pointers, punishing Oklahoma City every time they tried to collapse the paint.

For a Phoenix team that needs depth to support its stars, Goodwin’s explosion was a revelation. He provided the spacing and spark that kept the Suns afloat when the starters needed a breather, proving that on any given night, the NBA is a league where an unexpected variable can tip the scales.

The Chaotic Final Minute

The final 60 seconds of this contest had enough drama to fill a playoff series. The Suns seemed to have control after Dillon Brooks, who finished with 22 points, hit a difficult 3-pointer over MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to put Phoenix up 105-101 with 36 seconds left.

But chaos ensued. Chet Holmgren answered with a quick turnaround jumper. Then, Brooks—after playing the hero moments earlier—coughed up a costly turnover, giving the ball back to OKC. Jalen Williams, who was spectacular for the Thunder with 23 points, calmly drained a step-back jumper to knot the game at 105 with just 8.2 seconds remaining.

It looked like overtime was inevitable. It looked like the Thunder might steal one.

Booker call Game

Then came the play.

Booker finished with 24 points, a solid night by most standards, but his 3-point stroke has been a topic of conversation all season. He didn’t hesitate. The shot over Caruso was pure confidence—a reminder that despite the percentages, shooters shoot.

For Oklahoma City, led by Gilgeous-Alexander’s 25 points, it’s a rare stumble in a dominant season. They remain the team to beat in the West, but they leave Arizona knowing the gap might be closing.

For the Suns, this win is a statement. They stared down the best record in the NBA, overcame a terrible start, and exorcised the demons of a historic blowout. They head to Houston on Monday with something more valuable than just a win in the standings: belief.