The Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns delivered a dramatic NBA showdown on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix—a game that not only lived up to its billing but also left fans breathless with a last-second twist. Coming into the contest, the Thunder boasted a league-best 30-5 record, riding high on a four-game winning streak and two previous wins this season over the Suns. The Suns, meanwhile, were 20-14 and eager to snap an eight-game losing skid against Oklahoma City dating back to the 2023-24 campaign.
It was a night that saw both teams fielding lineups impacted by injuries. The Thunder were without Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus strain), Jaylin Williams (heel bursitis), Ousmane Dieng (calf strain), Nikola Topic (testicular surgery), and Thomas Sorber (torn ACL). Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe were questionable with knee soreness but suited up, while the Suns missed Jalen Green (hamstring strain) and Grayson Allen (right knee injury management) for the ninth straight game. Jordan Goodwin, however, was available and would play a pivotal role.
Tipoff came at 7 p.m. Central Time, with the game broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network and streamed online via Fubo. The Thunder rolled out a starting five of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. The Suns countered with Devin Booker, Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Royce O'Neale, and Mark Williams.
Oklahoma City, fresh off a dominant 131-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors, came out firing on all cylinders. Their defense clamped down early, and Lu Dort set the tone by scoring eight points in the first quarter. The Thunder led 26-20 after one, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributing five points and two assists, while Ajay Mitchell added five points off the bench. The Suns, struggling to find their rhythm, missed their first eight three-point attempts and shot just 33.3% in the opening half.
By the second quarter, the Thunder appeared poised to run away with it. They built an 18-point advantage, their offense humming and defense forcing Phoenix into eight first-half turnovers—leading to 13 Oklahoma City points. But just as the Thunder seemed in control, the Suns closed the half on a stunning 11-0 run, capped by a Royce O'Neale corner three. At the break, Oklahoma City held a 49-42 lead, but the momentum had shifted.
"A pretty bad finish to the half. Feels like that may come to bite OKC later on," one report noted, capturing the sense of unease creeping into the Thunder's sideline. Indeed, the Suns’ bench, led by Jordan Goodwin, started to heat up. Goodwin, who would go on to have a career night, nailed three of his first six attempts from deep, scoring nine first-half points. The Thunder, meanwhile, saw Gilgeous-Alexander limited to just seven points and five assists by halftime, as Phoenix's defense keyed in on the reigning MVP.
The third quarter brought more fireworks. The Suns, feeding off their late-half surge, outscored the Thunder and edged ahead 74-73 by the end of the period. Devin Booker, who had a quiet first half with just six points, caught fire and finished the third with 17 points and seven assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered with 19 points and five assists through three, while Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell kept Oklahoma City in the hunt.
As the game entered its final minutes, tension filled the arena. The Thunder, who had been so dominant in previous meetings, suddenly found themselves in a dogfight. Phoenix, led by Goodwin’s relentless shooting and Booker's playmaking, refused to back down. Goodwin would finish with a career-high 26 points, drilling an incredible 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. His performance off the bench proved to be the X-factor Phoenix desperately needed.
With the score knotted in the closing seconds, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. Devin Booker, who had been 0-for-3 from three-point range all night, found himself with the ball and the game on the line. Guarded closely by Alex Caruso, Booker rose and buried a three-pointer with just 0.7 seconds remaining—sending the sellout crowd of 17,071 into a frenzy and stunning the defending NBA champions. "Devin Booker hit the game-winning 3 over Alex Caruso with 0.7 seconds left," reported azcentral.com, underlining the magnitude of the moment.
Oklahoma City still had one last gasp. Ajay Mitchell, who had delivered key minutes throughout, got a look at a corner three as the buzzer sounded. The shot missed, and the Suns erupted in celebration, having secured a 108-105 victory—their first win over the Thunder in three tries this season and a much-needed morale boost for a team trying to climb the Western Conference standings.
Booker finished with 24 points, shaking off his earlier struggles from deep to deliver when it mattered most. "Booker was 0-for-3 from 3 before making that last attempt. He finished with 24 points," noted The Oklahoman. Goodwin’s 26 points and eight threes were a revelation, while the Suns overcame an 18-point deficit and a frigid shooting night (just 33.3% from the field) to pull off the upset.
For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 25 points and six assists, Jalen Williams added 23 points and seven assists, and Chet Holmgren chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds. The Thunder shot 47.6% overall but struggled from deep, hitting just 26.7% of their threes. Despite their strong start and imposing defense, they couldn’t withstand Phoenix’s late barrage.
“You gotta respect the fight this Phoenix team has. Devin Booker leads the way with 17 points & 7 assists,” one live update summarized during the pivotal third quarter. That fight was evident in the way Phoenix clawed back, outscoring the Thunder when it mattered most and seizing the moment in the final seconds.
Both teams now look ahead to their next matchups. The Suns, buoyed by their dramatic win, will hit the road for a back-to-back against the Houston Rockets on Monday, January 5. Grayson Allen, out with a knee injury, is hopeful to return soon, with Suns coach Ott noting, “Tomorrow (Monday), hopefully, we’ll see him back out there.” The Thunder, now 30-6, will regroup before facing the Charlotte Hornets at home on January 5, aiming to bounce back and continue their strong season.
Sunday’s contest was a testament to the unpredictable nature of NBA basketball—a night where a team’s fortunes can change in a heartbeat, and a single shot can rewrite the narrative. For Phoenix, it was a night to remember; for Oklahoma City, a reminder that no lead is ever truly safe in the NBA.