Alex Caruso is one of the toughest defenders in the league. Never mind his height. That did not matter to Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker on Sunday after he hit the game winning shot with 0.7 seconds left against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Suns were the underdog in the match and it looked like that in the first three quarters when they even went down by 19 points early in the third quarter.
The last two minutes came and Phoenix Suns found themselves ahead by four points after Dillon Brooks hit a 3-point shot with 36 seconds to go. The Thunder would not give up as Chet Holmgren hit a 13-foot shot, made a defensive stop, and then Jalen Williams hit another field goal to tie the game.
It was a 105 deadlock, 8.7 seconds left in the game and as expected they turned to Booker. Oklahoma City turned to Caruso to stop him and the offense won over defense.
DEVIN BOOKER FOR THE WIN!!! 🚨🤯 pic.twitter.com/emPLtn6Bbl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 5, 2026
Suns won the game, 108-105, and it was a get back at the defending champions who humiliated them last December 10, 89-138.
Devin Booker didn’t mind Alex Caruso
Booker vs Caruso could be a match up for the ages. They both excel in their respective expertise. Caruso is known as a great defender and is even capable of stopping a phenomenal player like Nikola Jokic.
The Suns guard was unfazed heading into the play. He made the shot and left minimal time for OKC to hit a shot.
“That’s Alex Caruso guarding you. That’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. What’s your confidence level that you can get up a good look against that level of defender in that situation?”
Devin Booker: “Yeah pretty confident” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/m3vISiqq3X
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) January 5, 2026
Booker has all the right feeling that way because he’s made that shot many times in his career. He said he will never get tired of it.
According to NBA, that was his 8th game winning shot under 5 seconds.
Tonight marks Devin Booker’s 8th-career game-winner in the final 5 seconds of a game…
That ties Jayson Tatum for 2nd-most since Booker entered the league, only behind Kawhi Leonard (9) 🤩
Re-live all of Booker’s game-winners ⤵️ https://t.co/7oOuFdmU4V pic.twitter.com/M27V9l7ZCb
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2026
“That’s a feeling you can’t replicate.”
Following his game-winning three, Devin Booker reflects on what it’s like to come up big in the clutch! https://t.co/7oOuFdmU4V pic.twitter.com/8rsQLK6Sgb
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2026
For the latest Basketball Content
Make sure you are always updated on your favorite basketball players and teams. Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for the latest and trending news about NBA, college basketball, and more. Stay updated by reading more of our NBA articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
