Suns defeat Warriors to secure No. 8 seed and playoff matchup with Thunder

Jalen Green Leads Suns Past Warriors in Play-In Game

In a decisive victory, Jalen Green put on a stellar performance, scoring 36 points, while Devin Booker contributed 20, helping the Phoenix Suns defeat the Golden State Warriors 111-96 during the NBA Play-In Tournament on Friday night.

With this win, the Suns secured the No. 8 seed for the Western Conference Playoffs, setting up a matchup against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Sunday.

For the Warriors, this marks the end of their season.

Green was particularly impressive, making 14 of his 20 field goal attempts, including 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Jordan Goodwin also had a solid outing, scoring 19 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and showcasing his defensive skills with 6 steals.

Booker and Draymond Green of the Warriors found themselves in hot water, both receiving two technical fouls, leading to their ejections after some heated exchanges late in the fourth quarter.

Stephen Curry, at 38, struggled to find his rhythm, ending the game with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Meanwhile, Brandin Podzemski stepped up for the Warriors, leading his team with 23 points.

The Suns were ahead by five points at halftime and later expanded their lead with a quick layup from Royce O’Neal, pushing the score to 69-53. Despite this, there were still some nerves on the Phoenix side, especially remembering their recent loss to Portland after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth. The Warriors, however, had also shown they could recover, overcoming a 13-point deficit against the Clippers just days prior to this matchup.

Curry did spark a brief moment of hope with a 3-pointer, narrowing the Suns’ lead to 85-78 with 9:30 left in the game, but Phoenix quickly responded with the next seven points, effectively sealing their victory.

The Suns were determined to avoid becoming the first team to lose both games at home in the play-in tournament since its inception in 2021.

Krisops Porzingis of the Warriors played despite complaining of right ankle soreness, which he sustained in the previous game against the Clippers. He managed to score 11 points in his limited 15 minutes on the court.

Initially, the Suns jumped to a quick 13-2 lead, capitalizing on early turnovers from the Warriors. Golden State struggled with their shooting, making only 30 percent of their attempts, including just 1 of 9 from the 3-point line, as Phoenix closed the first quarter with a significant 33-15 lead.