The Phoenix Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors 111-96 on Friday night at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, eliminating Golden State from the NBA play-in tournament and clinching the Western Conference’s No. 8 playoff seed.
Jalen Green delivered a dominant scoring performance with 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 8-of-14 from three-point range. His efficiency and shot volume set the tone for Phoenix throughout the game.
Devin Booker added 20 points for the Suns, pairing scoring with playmaking as Phoenix consistently generated clean perimeter looks against Golden State’s defensive coverages.
Jordan Goodwin played a key two-way role with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six steals, repeatedly disrupting passing lanes and converting defensive pressure into transition opportunities.
Stephen Curry finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, struggling to find rhythm under sustained defensive pressure. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points in a losing effort.
Phoenix opened the game with a 13-2 run after forcing early turnovers and ended the first quarter ahead 33-15, as Golden State shot just 30 percent and struggled from deep.
The Warriors responded in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 50-45 at halftime behind improved interior scoring and more controlled possessions.
Golden State briefly threatened in the third quarter when Curry hit a three-pointer to cut the margin to 85-78, but Phoenix immediately answered with a 7-0 run to regain control.
The game also featured late fourth-quarter tensions, with Devin Booker and Draymond Green each assessed two technical fouls after repeated exchanges, leading to their ejections.
Golden State also dealt with limited minutes from Kristaps Porzingis, who played through right ankle soreness and finished with 11 points in 15 minutes.
With the win, the Suns avoided becoming the first team to lose both home play-in games since the format was introduced in 2021, while securing postseason qualification.
Phoenix, now the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, advances to face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Sunday, while the Warriors’ season comes to an end.
