The Phoenix Suns left little doubt in the West’s final play-in game, beating the Golden State Warriors 111-96 on Friday night to claim the No. 8 seed and a first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Phoenix seized control almost immediately, jumping out to a 13-2 lead and carrying a 33-15 advantage after the first quarter, a start the Warriors never fully recovered from.
Jalen Green was the game’s clearest force. He scored 36 points for Phoenix and followed up his 35-point outing in the Suns’ previous play-in loss with another explosive performance, while Devin Booker added 20 points. Jordan Goodwin chipped in 19 and drew praise for his defensive work as Phoenix combined shot-making with defensive pressure to close the door on Golden State’s season.
For the Warriors, the night never settled into the kind of rhythm that had rescued them earlier in the week. Stephen Curry finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, and Golden State’s offense repeatedly stalled under Phoenix’s pressure. Brandin Podziemski was a bright spot with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but the Warriors’ turnovers and inability to control the game early left them chasing from almost the opening tip.
The game also carried the kind of emotional volatility elimination basketball tends to produce. Draymond Green and Devin Booker exchanged words during a heated sequence that resulted in technical fouls and Green’s ejection, a flashpoint that reflected the frustration building on Golden State’s side as the margin held.
By the end, Phoenix had not merely survived the play-in. It had responded emphatically after its earlier stumble against Portland and earned the right to keep playing.
For the Suns, the reward is clear and immediate: a playoff matchup with Oklahoma City and a chance to test their late push against the defending champions. For the Warriors, the loss closes a season that briefly flashed life in the play-in but ended with a flat, frustrated exit.
