Pat Spencer’s big effort propels Warriors past Suns
Pat Spencer produced career highs of 20 points and six 3-pointers and the Golden State Warriors scored the final 10 points to take a 101-97 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
Gui Santos contributed 18 points, and his breakaway layup with 28.7 seconds remaining put the Warriors up 99-97. After Phoenix's Dillon Brooks missed a 3-point attempt, the Warriors came up with a loose ball and De'Anthony Melton made a layup at the buzzer.
Brooks scored 24 points and Grayson Allen had 21 points and five 3-pointers for the Suns, who had won four of their previous five games.
Melton, making his first start of the season as the Warriors played their second straight game without Stephen Curry (knee), had 17 points. Gary Payton II put up 15 and Al Horford had 13, seven in the fourth quarter as Golden State snapped a two-game skid.
The Suns led 90-76 after scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter before the Warriors chipped away, closing within 97-95 on Horford's short shot from the lane with 2:18 remaining.
Melton's layup tied the game at 97-97 with 55.8 seconds left, and Moses Moody blocked Collin Gillespie's drive, setting up Santos' layup for the lead.
Spencer made 6 of 10 3-point shots and the Warriors were 20 of 55 (36.4%) from long distance, two attempts short of their season high. They sank 15 of 37 (40.5%) from beyond the arc in the first half, and they took only 21 2-point attempts in the game.
The Suns made 16 of 43 (37.2%) from long range, with Royce O'Neale and Gillespie sinking three apiece.
Spencer, making his fifth start of the season, had five 3-pointers in the first half as Golden State built a 59-55 lead. Santos had three threes and Melton, Moody and Payton had two apiece.
Spencer's two free throws gave the Warriors a 66-56 lead four minutes into the second half before the Suns closed the quarter on an 18-7 run that induced 3-pointers by Allen, Brooks, Ryan Dunn and Gillespie for an 82-76 lead.
The Warriors used their 24th different starting lineup.
Devin Booker (ankle) missed his seventh straight game and Jalen Green (hip, hamstring) sat out his third straight for the Suns. New Warrior Kristaps Porzingis and new Suns Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, all acquired at the trade deadline, were not in uniform.