Bradley Beal knew he was taking a huge risk when he dived for the steal to keep the ball away from Stephen Curry with 3.3 seconds remaining.
“He’s the best to ever shoot it,” Beal added. “So you know the result after that.”
Brandin Podziemski’s inbounds pass found Curry. With Beal out of the game, Curry made a 33-footer to help the Golden State Warriors defeat the Suns 113-112 on Saturday night, their fourth straight win and sixth in seven games.
“I just tried to get it to him,” Podziemski explained. “No matter how long it took.”
Curry was able to spin and explained that it was “just muscle memory to shoot.”
“You live with it,” Curry explained. “Thankfully, it worked out.”
Curry ended with 30 points, including nine three-pointers.
“Only a shot that I think he would take,” Podziemski remarked. “A regular person would probably take a dribble or something like that.”
It was Curry’s tenth career winning shot of five seconds or less.
Six of the Warriors’ 35 crucial games this season have been decided by one point, and they are 17-18. This season’s four games against the Suns have all been close.
“We were due,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained. “We were expecting one of these tight games to go our way. But the men deserved it. “It did not just happen.”
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 32 points, while Kevin Durant contributed 24. After Curry’s 3-pointer, the Suns had two chances, but Booker was fouled under the basket on the first, and Durant was unable to take a shot on the second.
“We just weren’t at our best,” Suns coach Frank Vogel admitted. “We played a good basketball game, enough to defeat these guys. “One play in the last two seconds changes the outcome.”
Durant, Curry’s Warriors teammate who won two championships, knew just what an open shot meant.
“You give him a look like that for the game, he’s licking his chops,” Durant was quoted as saying. “I still believe we might have had that theft. It’s a difficult play. “Sometimes guys are just that awesome.”
Golden State avoided being swept by the Suns in the season series, returning to.500 for the first time since December 25.
The Warriors lead 84-82 heading into the fourth quarter. With 35 seconds remaining, Booker hit a turnaround jumper to give the Suns a 112-110 lead.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 21 points for Golden State. Draymond Green recorded 15 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
Royce O’Neale, acquired at the trade deadline, made his Suns debut and scored three points. Phoenix’s other deadline acquisition, David Roddy, did not participate.
Gary Payton, who had missed the previous 16 games due to a left hamstring ailment, returned for the Warriors. He had eleven points.
Green, who had avoided technical fouls since returning from an indefinite suspension in January, received one while arguing for a foul call following a layup in the third quarter.
Green also exchanged words and taunts with Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, whom he was suspended for striking in the face on December 12.
“It’s sad,” Nurkic stated. “He learned nothing. It’s only a question of time. He’s going to knock someone else again. I take back everything I said. “He does not deserve a chance.”
