Goodwin hits free throw with 0.4 seconds left, Suns escape with 99-98 win over Warriors

PHOENIX (AP) — Jordan Goodwin made the go-ahead free throw with 0.4 seconds left, Devin Booker scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half and the Phoenix Suns escaped with a 99-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

Stephen Curry hit two free throws to tie it at 98 with 21.7 seconds left, setting up the Suns' final possession. Dillon Brooks missed badly on a 3-pointer, but Goodwin was there for the rebound and got fouled on the putback attempt.

Goodwin missed the first free throw, but made the second. Brooks had 24 points, and Collin Gillespie added 16.

The teams will complete the home-and-home set Saturday in San Francisco.

The Suns survived despite a costly flagrant foul by Brooks in the final minute.

Phoenix led 96-91 with 38.3 seconds left when Brooks was called for the Flagrant 1 after hitting Curry in the stomach after a 3-point attempt. Curry hit two free throws and Jimmy Butler followed with a 3-pointer to tie it at 96 with 35.5 seconds left.

Butler led the Warriors with 31 points. Brandin Podziemski scored 18 points on 8-of -11 shooting, and Curry had 15.

Curry shot just 3 of 13 from the field, including 2 of 9 from long range. The 11-time All-Star was coming off a 48-point performance against the Trail Blazers on Sunday.

The Warriors had 20 turnovers.

Golden State built a 62-48 lead early in the third quarter but Phoenix rallied to tie at 66 a few minutes later on a Booker 3-pointer. The Warriors took a 71-70 lead into the fourth.

Golden State built a 53-46 lead by halftime. Butler had 16 points for the Warriors while Brooks paced the Suns with 20. Phoenix shot just 37% before the break.

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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, drives past Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, left, grabs a rebound against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, center, and Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots over Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, right, argues with referee Leon Wood, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, left, collides with Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) as they go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 21 of his season-high 29 points after halftime, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 25-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 133-128 in overtime on Thursday night.

Trey Murphy scored 27 points and Herb Jones had 18 points and a career-high eight steals before fouling out for the Pelicans, who've won three straight after winning just three of their first 25 games.

The 25-point comeback tied a franchise high and was the largest second-half comeback in franchise history, which dates back to the 2002-03 season.

Jordan Poole scored 15 points, capped by two free throws with 12 seconds left in overtime that put the Pelicans up 131-128. Houston's Reed Sheppard missed two shots from 3-point range in the final seconds before Bey got the rebound and hit game-sealing free throws with 2 seconds left in the extra period as a jubilant crowd that had been on its feet since the final minutes of regulation celebrated the unlikely comeback.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Alperen Sengun had 28 for Houston, but Sengun was unable to get off a shot for the win after dribbling into the paint in the final seconds of regulation.

Sengun missed two free throws with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, allowing New Orleans to complete the second-half comeback and tie it at 117 on Bey's driving finger roll with 31 seconds to play.

Rookie Derik Queen had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and his 18-foot jumper sparked an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter. The surge ended with Bey's dunk and pulled the Pelicans to 101-96.

Durant helped Houston dominate early by scoring 13 points in the first quarter, hitting his first five shots, including three 3s.

The Pelicans, by contrast, missed 20 of 29 shots in the paint during the first half.

Durant had 18 points by halftime, when Houston led 67-45.

New Orleans methodically trimmed its deficit to 13 in the third quarter before entering the fourth quarter trailing 99-83.

Rockets: At the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Pelicans: Host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey, right, reacts after dunking against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) dunks against Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) near Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guards Jose Alvarado, top, and Saddiq Bey, bottom, celebrate as they take the lead in the final seconds of overtime against the Houston Rockets during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, center right, battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, center, shoots against Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, lrft, shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, top right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots a 3-point basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)