The NBA playoff picture is complete. On Friday (Saturday, Manila time), the Phoenix Suns ended the Golden State Warriors’ season with a dominant victory to secure the final postseason berth.
Jalen Green Shines as Suns Clinch No. 8 Seed
Jalen Green delivered a dazzling performance, scoring 36 points on eight triples to power Phoenix past Stephen Curry’s Warriors, 111-96, and lock up the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed.
The Suns raced to a 33-15 lead in the first quarter before Golden State clawed back to within five at halftime. But Phoenix kept the Warriors at arm’s length, limiting Curry to just 17 points in what proved to be a frustrating night for the two-time MVP.
With just over a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Curry and converted a transition bucket. He then buried a three-pointer on the next possession to seal the win and the Suns’ playoff ticket.
“Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game,” said Green, who also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Phoenix now faces the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Warriors Crash Out Again
For the injury-plagued and aging Warriors, who last won the NBA title in 2022, the defeat marked a third straight season stuck in the play-in tournament—and a second early exit in three years. They had earlier stayed alive by stunning the Los Angeles Clippers.
Tempers flared late, with Draymond Green and Devin Booker both ejected. Draymond continued to taunt Phoenix fans as he left the court, underscoring the bitter end to Golden State’s campaign.
