Suns Vs Warriors: Phoenix’s late surge ends Golden State’s season
In Phoenix, the suns vs warriors matchup was decided not by one frantic run, but by a steadier kind of control. Jalen Green scored 36 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in the NBA play-in tournament Friday night, locking up the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
How did the Suns turn a tense night into control?
For stretches, the game felt open enough for a comeback. Phoenix led by five at halftime and then stretched the margin to 69-53 with 5: 12 left in the third quarter after a fast-break layup by Royce O’Neale. The Suns were still ahead 85-72 with 10: 12 remaining.
Golden State had every reason to believe it could make another push. The Warriors had already recovered from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers two nights earlier, while Phoenix had lost an 11-point fourth-quarter lead to Portland earlier in the week. But when Curry hit a 3-pointer to cut the score to 85-78 with 9: 30 left, Phoenix answered with the next seven points and never gave the game back.
Green was efficient throughout, finishing 14-of-20 from the field and 8-of-14 from 3-point range. Devin Booker added 20 points, while Jordan Goodwin supplied 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals in a disruptive defensive performance.
Why did Golden State struggle to find answers?
The Warriors could not get Stephen Curry the clean looks they needed. Curry, 38, finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with 23 points, but the offense never found enough rhythm to match Phoenix’s shot-making and pressure.
Golden State also dealt with a limited Kristaps Porzingis, who played through right ankle soreness and logged only 15 minutes. He finished with 11 points. The Warriors opened the night turning the ball over four times, and Phoenix used that stretch to build a 13-2 lead before extending the advantage to 33-15 after one quarter. Golden State did cut the margin to 50-45 by halftime, but the early damage forced it to chase the rest of the way.
What changed the tone in the fourth quarter?
The final minutes turned chippy as Booker and Draymond Green were each assessed two technical fouls after repeated words exchanged between them. Both were ejected late in the fourth quarter. The moment fit a game that had already grown physical and tense, with Phoenix relying on its defense to keep Golden State from finding one last surge.
This was also a game with stakes beyond one night. Phoenix avoided becoming the first team to lose both play-in tournament games on its home floor under the format established in 2021. The reward is a first-round meeting with the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Game 1.
For Golden State, the night closed with finality. For Phoenix, suns vs warriors ended with one team still moving forward, carrying the feel of a group that answered pressure with energy, discipline and just enough edge to change its season.
What comes next for Phoenix?
The Suns now turn to Oklahoma City with the confidence of a win built on clear roles: Green as the scoring force, Booker as the steady second option, and Goodwin as the defender who changed possessions. The question now is whether that blend can travel into the next round. On Friday, it was enough to send the Warriors home and give Phoenix a new stage.
