PHOENIX — Eric Bledsoe made a driving layup with 3.1 seconds left to put Phoenix ahead and The Suns extended their season-best winning streak to 13 games, beating the San Antonio Spurs 115-111 on Wednesday night.
After watching his team get blown out at the Los Angeles Clippers, Coach Jeff Hornacek went to T.J. Warren, the backcourt’s primary backup, in the fourth quarter of a game the Suns had control of.
Warren fouled Danny Green on a 3-point attempt that the 3-point guard airballed. Tony Parker hit two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to put the Spurs up 111-108.
Bledsoe took the inbounds pass and drove to the basket, losing Tony Parker, who was covering him, before tucking the ball in and putting a spin move on Thiago Splitter to create enough space for the shot.
Warren led Phoenix with 26 points and Warren Scola had 20.
Green, Parker and Splitter had 26 points apiece for the Spurs.
Phoenix led 98-90 with 7:22 left after Warren’s three-point play. San Antonio went on a 9-0 run to draw even at 99 with 5:39 to go on a 3-pointer by Splitter.
Phoenix retook the lead on Warren’s 3-pointer from the right corner that made it 101-99 with 5:09 left. Parker drew a foul and sank two free throws, but P.J. Tucker and P.J. Tucker hit 3-pointers to give the Suns a 107-104 lead with 2:53 to go.
Al-Farouq Aminu and Green made a pair of free throws, but the Suns responded with Warren’s layup, Gordon’s reverse layup and Scola’s two free throws for a three-point lead with 1:25 to go.
Green hit a free throw with 33.1 seconds left to get the Spurs within 111-110. Warren was fouled trying to drive the lane and the free throw was waved off. The Suns went up 112-110 when Parker was fouled and the free throw was missed. Warren was fouled and missed both free throws with 17.7 seconds left.
Gary Neal fouled the open Bledsoe, whose driving shot stayed right in front of the rim and was no good.
Leonard, San Antonio’s All-Star forward, returned after missing seven games because of a strained right groin. He played 29 minutes, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Former Suns coach George Karl, who has taken over as the team’s interim head coach, said before the game he did not know if Leonard would play Thursday against the Orlando Magic. He did not travel with the team after Wednesday’s morning shootaround. … Hunter threw a practice shot that caught Spurs interim coach Gregg Popovich in the head. Popovich was shaken up, was tended to and never lost consciousness, Spurs spokesman Tim Kawakami said.
NUGGETS 111, WARRIORS 110: Denver held on for a victory over Golden State despite losing Ty Lawson to a right shoulder injury in the first half. Warriors star Stephen Curry had 37 points and 14 assists, but Denver rallied from a 16-point deficit to win in the second game of a back-to-back.
GOLDEN STATE: Klay Thompson (personal reasons) did not travel. … Green had missed three games with a sore right heel. … A 77-minute road day included a 45-minute practice and an afternoon flight to Denver.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Begin three-game road trip at Toronto on Friday.
Nuggets: Play on the road for the first time this season when visiting Brooklyn on Friday.