Phoenix Suns beat Golden State Warriors 111-96 to clinch playoff spot
The Phoenix Suns have secured the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference playoffs after eliminating the Golden State Warriors with a decisive 111-96 home victory on Friday.
Jalen Green orchestrated the triumph with an outstanding 36-point performance, ensuring his team advances to face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The result prematurely ends the campaign for the visitors, marking a disappointing conclusion to their season.
Devin Booker contributed a valuable 20 points before being ejected late in the fourth quarter following a heated altercation with Draymond Green.
Curry stifled as hosts dominate early
The home defence successfully contained Stephen Curry throughout the high-stakes encounter, restricting the 38-year-old guard to just 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Brandin Podziemski provided the main offensive resistance for the eliminated squad, leading their scoring efforts with 23 points.
A commanding start saw the Arizona franchise capitalise on four early turnovers to establish a dominant 33-15 lead by the end of the opening quarter.
Despite shooting just 30% from the field initially, the visitors rallied impressively to reduce the deficit to five points heading into the halftime break.
Late ejections and staved-off comebacks
Momentum shifted back towards the hosts in the third quarter when a fast-break layup by Royce O’Neale extended their advantage to 16 points.
Fears of a late collapse loomed momentarily as Curry connected on a crucial three-pointer to cut the gap to 85-78 with under ten minutes remaining.
However, the home side responded with seven consecutive points to firmly shut the door on any potential comeback.
The tension boiled over in the closing stages when both Booker and the Warriors’ veteran power forward were assessed double technical fouls and subsequently dismissed from the court.
Injury concerns and defensive masterclasses
Jordan Goodwin proved instrumental to the defensive masterclass, accumulating 19 points, nine rebounds, and six crucial steals.
The losing side’s challenges were compounded by fitness issues, with Kristaps Porzingis restricted to just 15 minutes of action due to an ankle problem sustained earlier in the week.
By securing this crucial win, the Suns successfully avoided the unwanted historical distinction of losing consecutive home play-in tournament fixtures.
They will now immediately turn their attention to a challenging series against the top-seeded Thunder, which commences on Sunday.
