Suns Storm Back in Fourth Quarter, Defeat Wizards

The Phoenix Suns (14-12) topped the Washington Wizards (4-21) by a score of 112-108 in a game that went anything but how Suns fans expected. The Suns trailed Washington by as many as sixteen before throughly outplaying one of the worst teams in the league in the second half en route to a narrow victory.

The Suns began the game with a new starting five: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic.

Washington head coach Wes Unseld opted for a starting five of Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford.

This is how the game transpired:

First Half

The Suns won the opening tip and scored 15 seconds into the game with a beautiful Allen cut and layup finish off of a Nurkic pass.

Jordan Poole answered with a three-ball from 30-plus feet and Tyus Jones repeated the act with another three to get the Wizards to six points.

A Devin Booker pull-up three to put Phoenix up 7-6 before Washington went on a 9-2 run that forced a Frank Vogel timeout at the 7:29 mark.

A Tyus Jones steal and layup continued an unlikely Wizards streak, as their 15-2 run put the Wizards up 21-9 halfway through the quarter.

Kevin Durant ended the run with a driving dunk off of a Booker assist, putting Phoenix over the 10-point mark.

Eric Gordon checked in for Nassir Little at the 5:24 mark in the quarter.

Devin Booker exited the game at the 3:38 mark after being fouled on a drive.

An Eric Gordon three-pointer brought Phoenix back within four.

The Wizards closed the first quarter in strong fashion, leading 29-21 after one frame.

Eubanks managed a layup off of a Booker steal put Phoenix on the board to start the second quarter. Gordon then answered with a tough finish in transition to bring Phoenix to within four once again.

A gorgeous Jordan Goodwin alley-top lob to Drew Eubanks put Phoenix down two and forced a Washington timeout with 9:24 left in the first half.

A Danilo Gallinari three-ball and Tyus Jones transition finish put Washington up eight in a first half chalk-full of runs.

Chimezie Metu forced a foul and a trip to the line, knocking down both before a Mike Muscala mid-range pull up forced another Suns timeout.

Washington lead 39-31 with 7:05 remaining in the half.

Kyle Kuzma's three put Washington up 51-37, and the Suns called a timeout with 3:13 remaining in the half.

Gordon's transition layup on a feed from Booker put Phoenix at 43 in the first half in a truly disappointing effort offensively in the first half.

The Wizards led 58-46 at halftime.

Second Half

The third quarter was largely uneventful save for the last handful of minutes.

The Suns outscored the Wizards 35-31 in frame three to trail 89-81 going into the fourth after two missed opportunities in the closing seconds of the quarter.

Phoenix locked in when the fourth quarter came about - the Suns outscored the Wizards 24-8 through the first 9 minutes of the quarter, capped by a rim-rolling corner three from Allen put the Suns up 105-97 with 3:10 to play.

Phoenix led 105-100 at the two-minute mark of the contest.

Sloppy ball control and suspect defense kept the Wizards in the game in the closing stretch.

Booker hit a pull-up mid range attempt to put the Suns up 107-102 before a Jordan Poole layup and an illegal screen on Nurkic suddenly gave Washington a chance to tie the game once again.

Daniel Gafford hit a close-range shot to put the Wizards back within one with 42.1 seconds left.

A thunderous Durant dunk lead to an and-one opportunity, potentially putting the game on ice. Phoenix led 109-106 with 27.8 seconds to go before Durant hit the free throw to put the Suns up four.

KEVIN. WAYNE. DURANT.

😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/firxAApu9I
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 18, 2023

A successful challenge of a Booker foul by Vogel on the next possession gave the Suns the ball back with 16.8 seconds left.

Durant subsequently missed one look from the free throw line and Gafford hit an uncontested dunk to bring the Wizards within one possession again.

A missed free throw from Gordon kept the game within reach for Washington down to the final moments. The Wizards called a timeout and advanced the ball down four with 4.9 seconds left.

However, Washington wasn't able to capitalize on the remaining time, and the Suns ultimately pulled out a victory.

The three players that lead the fourth quarter surge?

Eubanks, Goodwin, and Booker were instrumental in the Suns snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, as a loss to the Wizards could be seen as a symbolistic death to a once promising season.

The Suns will be in action again on Tuesday night in a road test against the Portland Trail Blazers.