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Dillon Brooks delivered a blunt assessment after the Phoenix Suns fell 121–109 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round series on Saturday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

Brooks, who led Phoenix with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting, pointed to execution at the end of quarters as a key factor in the loss. “They’re big. Ending quarters is a big thing in this league and those are some things that we got to find a way to take care of,” he said.

He also connected those breakdowns to both sides of the floor. “That comes under our defense, but it’s our shot selection and turnovers as well,” Brooks said, identifying the areas that swung momentum toward the defending champions.

Oklahoma City built separation with runs late in the first and second quarters, something Brooks acknowledged as decisive. “They’re big,” he repeated when asked about the swing moments that shaped the game.

Despite the loss, Brooks noted stretches where Phoenix’s defense created the looks it wanted. “We did a good job making them take tough shots,” he said. However, he highlighted a second-chance issue that tilted possessions. “The misses that they had, they ended up getting offensive rebounds. It doesn’t cap or captivate the whole possession.”

The Suns struggled to fully convert defensive stops into momentum-changing runs, something Brooks tied to consistency over 48 minutes. “For us, to push the ball down and get an offensive score, it’s the details like you said. We got to do it for 48 minutes against the number one team in the NBA,” he said.

Oklahoma City, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting, extended its series lead to 3–0 and moved one win away from a sweep. Brooks acknowledged the challenge of matching a team that has built continuity and structure. “This team’s been together for quite a while through ups and downs and they know how to fight,” he said.

Even in a 0–3 deficit, Brooks insisted Phoenix’s approach will not change. “I believe in our group,” he said. “We have heart and we’re going to battle to the end.”

He also highlighted the locker room response to adversity and injuries, including Devin Booker’s brief exit after an ankle issue. “We do it for one another,” Brooks said. “We have a lot of guys that will play through injury, a lot of guys that put their heart on the line for the team.”

Brooks also credited Grayson Allen’s return for providing spacing and offensive structure. “He’s a three-point shooter who spaces the floor for us so he can get downhill and make plays for Book and Jalen,” he said.

With Game 4 set for Monday in Phoenix, Brooks summed up the urgency facing the Suns. “It stings right now, but come tomorrow, we’re going to lock back in and figure out more details and more adjustments.”

He closed by acknowledging the challenge ahead against a high-efficiency opponent. On Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance, Brooks said simply: “He’s efficient.”