(Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Valley Suns erased a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat the Salt Lake City Stars 123-120 in a G League thriller Thursday afternoon at Mullett Arena.

The game, which defied statistical projections that heavily favored the visiting Stars, was decided in a frantic final minute that saw the Suns complete their comeback and the Stars miss two potential game-tying three-pointers.

Salt Lake City appeared poised for a comfortable victory after a dominant third quarter. After trailing 59-53 at halftime, the Stars erupted for 40 points in the third period, spearheaded by the inside-outside combination of center Mohamed Bamba and guard Max Abmas. That surge gave Salt Lake City a 93-83 lead heading into the final frame.

However, the Valley offense, stagnant for much of the third, found its rhythm in the fourth, matching the Stars’ 40-point quarter. The Suns methodically chipped away, with guard Damion Baugh and forward Koby Brea making critical plays. The comeback was fueled by a 15-2 run that turned a 103-92 deficit into a 107-105 Suns lead with just over six minutes remaining.

The final sequence encapsulated the night’s drama. With the Suns leading 121-119, Salt Lake City’s Dereon Seabron was fouled on a three-point attempt with five seconds left. He missed the first free throw, made the second to cut the lead to one, and intentionally missed the third. Valley’s C.J. Huntley secured the defensive rebound and was fouled, but not before the Stars were forced to burn their final timeout.

After the timeout, Huntley missed his first free throw, keeping the Stars within a single point. Valley called timeout to set its defense, and on the ensuing inbounds play, Seabron fouled Brea with four seconds left. Brea calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to three.

Salt Lake City had one final chance, but Abmas’s deep three-point attempt as time expired was off the mark, secured by Brea to seal the victory.

The result was a significant upset based on season trajectory. The Stars entered the contest with a 22-14 record, while the Suns languished at 9-24. Predictive models gave Salt Lake City a nearly 70 percent chance to win. The Suns’ resilience was highlighted by their performance down the stretch, outscoring the Stars 40-27 in the fourth quarter.

Key to the Valley effort was the play of Huntley, whose defensive presence and timely scoring were instrumental, particularly during the final push. Baugh orchestrated the offense with precision in the closing period. For Salt Lake City, Bamba’s interior scoring and Abmas’s perimeter shooting built the large lead that ultimately proved insufficient.

With the win, Valley improved to 10-24 across all competitions, while Salt Lake City fell to 22-15. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Tempe on March 2.