The Phoenix Suns delivered one of their most complete performances of the season Friday night, overpowering the Golden State Warriors 111–96 in the Western Conference’s final NBA Play-In Tournament game to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Behind a sensational shooting night from Jalen Green and a disciplined defensive effort that neutralized Stephen Curry, the Suns ensured their postseason hopes stayed alive while ending Golden State’s season in decisive fashion.
Jalen Green turned in a star-level performance when Phoenix needed it most, scoring 36 points on an efficient 14-of-20 shooting from the field and knocking down eight of his 14 attempts from beyond the arc. His shot-making stretched Golden State’s defense throughout the night and helped Phoenix maintain control whenever the Warriors threatened a run.
Devin Booker added 20 points and helped orchestrate the offense during key stretches, while Jordan Goodwin made a major impact on both ends of the floor with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six steals. Goodwin’s defensive pressure helped disrupt Golden State’s rhythm and limit clean perimeter looks.
Phoenix’s defensive game plan centered on containing Stephen Curry—and it worked.
The 38-year-old superstar struggled to find space all night, finishing with just 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Curry briefly sparked hope with a fourth-quarter 3-pointer that cut the deficit to seven, but the Suns quickly answered with a decisive 7–0 run that restored control and effectively ended the comeback threat.
Brandin Podziemski paced the Warriors with 23 points, but Golden State never found sustained offensive momentum against Phoenix’s aggressive perimeter defense. The Suns entered halftime with a narrow five-point lead before breaking the game open in the third quarter.
Royce O’Neale’s fast-break layup capped a strong stretch that pushed Phoenix ahead 69–53 with just over five minutes left in the period. From there, the Suns maintained separation despite Golden State’s attempts to chip away. Still, given recent history, the outcome wasn’t secure.
Phoenix had surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead earlier in the week against Portland, while Golden State rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the Clippers in its previous play-in game. When Curry trimmed the margin to 85–78 with 9:30 remaining, another comeback seemed possible.
Instead, the Suns responded immediately—and decisively. Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter when Booker and Draymond Green exchanged words multiple times before both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected. The moment added intensity to an already physical contest but did little to alter the outcome as Phoenix closed things out comfortably.
With the win, Phoenix avoided becoming the first team since the NBA adopted the current play-in format in 2021 to lose both tournament games on its home floor. Instead, the Suns protected their season and earned a playoff berth the hard way.
Now, a much bigger challenge awaits. Phoenix will open its first-round series Sunday against the top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Warriors head into the offseason after falling one win short of the playoffs.
For one night, though, the Suns looked every bit like a team ready for the postseason stage.
