NBA: Suns hang on late to beat Warriors on night Draymond Green ejected

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 32 points, Bradley Beal added 16 in his return from a back injury and the Phoenix Suns held on late to beat the Golden State Warriors 119-116 in the NBA on Tuesday night.

Golden State’s Draymond Green was ejected in the third quarter after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul for hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 24 points.

The Suns took an 88-87 lead into the fourth after Beal hit a baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds left. Phoenix used a 12-0 run — highlighted by Jordan Goodwin’s steal, pass and then reverse dunk by Booker — to push ahead 109-96 with about four minutes left.

The Warriors trailed 113-104 with 1:30 left but rallied to cut the margin to 115-114 with 15 seconds left. Booker responded with two free throws to give the Suns a three-point lead and Curry missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing position.

Beal followed with two free throws to finally put away the game. The Suns are 3-0 this season against the Warriors.

Devin Booker (32 PTS) led the @Suns to victory in a down-to-the-wire game against the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/q9XT55KFeF

— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2023

Booker shot 12 of 23 from the field and added seven assists. Nurkic finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

The third quarter was marred when Green was ejected for the 18th time in his career, most among active NBA players.

Green and Nurkic were battling for position early in the third when the two got tangled. The Golden State forward appeared to slightly lose his balance, but then inexplicably wheeled around and smacked Nurkic in the face.

Nurkic immediately crumpled to the ground but eventually got up and stayed in the game. The referees reviewed the play before calling Green for a Flagrant 2 foul, which causes an automatic ejection.

“As you know, I’m not one to apologize for things that I meant to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn’t intend to hit him.”

Draymond Green on his ejection tonight pic.twitter.com/qcDlIvuFxS

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 13, 2023

It’s been less than a month since Green was suspended five games by the NBA for putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert into a headlock during an altercation in November.

Beal played in just his fourth game of the season and his first since Nov. 12. The three-time All-Star has been dealing with a low back strain since October.

The Suns’ big three of Booker, Beal and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant still hasn’t played a game together this season. Durant missed his second straight game Tuesday with a left ankle sprain.

Golden State lost despite a huge game from the bench, which combined for 80 points. Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Chris Paul and Dario Saric all were in double figures. Podziemski had 20.

Curry hit a 3 with 2.5 seconds left before the break to give the Warriors a 56-53 halftime lead. Curry led Golden State with 16 points in the first half while Booker had 13 for the Suns.

UP NEXT FOR WARRIORS, SUNS

Warriors: Travel to Clippers on Thursday.

Suns: Host Nets on Wednesday.