Gui Santos sparks Warriors vs Suns comeback in 101–97 win in Phoenix

The Golden State Warriors pulled out one of their grittier road wins of the season Thursday night, erasing a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 101–97 in a game that turned on pace, defense, and a pair of unexpected playmakers. Gui Santos delivered his best all-around night in a Warriors uniform—then capped it with a late, decisive finish—while guard Pat Spencer produced a career-high scoring burst that kept Golden State within striking distance long enough to steal it at the end.

For a Warriors rotation that has leaned heavily on depth and role clarity in recent weeks, the win also doubled as a preview of how Golden State can survive short-handed nights: by turning energy minutes into real production, and by trusting the next man to make the next play.

How the game flipped in the fourth

Phoenix entered the fourth with a cushion and briefly stretched the lead to 14, controlling tempo and forcing Golden State into longer possessions. The Warriors responded by cranking up defensive pressure and turning stops into quick offense, chipping away in small bites rather than looking for one big run.

The key sequence came in the final minute. With the game tied late, Santos sprinted the floor and finished a fast-break layup with 28.7 seconds left to put the Warriors ahead for good. That basket didn’t just give Golden State the lead—it forced Phoenix to play from behind in the closing possessions, where execution tightened and shot quality slipped.

Gui Santos’ breakout line, plus the defining play

Santos finished with 18 points on efficient shooting, and his stat line read like a player growing into a larger role rather than merely filling minutes. He hit threes, created for teammates, and defended well enough to stay on the floor for nearly 36 minutes, a clear sign of trust.

Just as important was how he scored. Santos didn’t hunt shots early; he let the game come to him and then attacked when the Suns’ defense was in rotation or scrambled in transition. The result was a night that balanced scoring with connective playmaking—exactly what Golden State needs from its wings when primary creators are pressured.

Pat Spencer’s surge and the roster ripple

Spencer’s 20 points were a career high and a major reason the Warriors were still alive by the time the fourth-quarter comeback began. His scoring arrived in the flow—timely drives, confident perimeter looks, and a willingness to take on responsibility in a high-leverage road setting.

The performance also landed right as Golden State moved to convert Spencer’s deal for the remainder of the season, a practical roster decision that quickly took on a symbolic layer: the Suns win became the clearest “why” behind the move.

Key performers snapshot

What Phoenix couldn’t finish

Phoenix’s issues were concentrated in the fourth quarter. The Suns managed only 15 points in the final period and made just six field goals, a drought that opened the door for Golden State’s late run.

Some of that was Golden State’s defense—more physicality at the point of attack, more urgency closing out to shooters, and better gang rebounding to end possessions. But the Suns also struggled to generate clean looks when the game tightened, leaning into difficult attempts rather than forcing rotations.

When a lead shrinks under pressure, the final test becomes decision-making: knowing when to slow down, when to attack mismatches, and when to settle for the simplest shot available. Phoenix didn’t consistently win those decisions in the final minutes.

What it means for the Warriors going forward

For Golden State, the game offered a clear template for nights when the margin is thin: keep competing, keep defending, and trust that role players can swing a game if they’re empowered to play decisively.

Santos’ night stands out because it wasn’t a one-skill cameo—it was a complete contribution: scoring, passing, and a late-game moment that directly decided the outcome. Spencer’s surge reinforced the same idea from a different angle: the Warriors can manufacture offense even when the typical options are limited, provided the bench guards are willing to attack.

If Golden State is going to stack wins down the stretch, it will likely look like this more often than the highlight versions—grinding back from deficits, winning the final four minutes, and turning overlooked pieces into closing-time answers.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, NBA, Reuters, ESPN