Suns Eliminate Curry and Warriors from NBA Play-In Tournament

Jalen Green scored 36 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in a play-in game on Friday. The victory sent Phoenix into the postseason as the Western Conference’s eighth seed.

Game summary

Phoenix capitalised on Golden State mistakes. The Suns scored 30 points off 21 Warriors turnovers.

The Suns opened with a 13-0 run after the Warriors’ first two points. Phoenix closed the first quarter on an eight-point streak to lead 33-15.

Second and third quarters

Phoenix cooled in the second. The Suns made only 5 of 20 shots in that period.

With 19.6 seconds left in the half, Stephen Curry’s free throws pulled Golden State within two. Jalen Green answered with a 3 at the buzzer to make it 50-45.

Phoenix regained control in the third with an 11-1 run. Jalen Green hit two 3s during that spurt.

Key performances

• Jalen Green — 36 points.
• Devin Booker — 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds.
• Jordan Goodwin — 19 points, nine rebounds, six steals.
• Brandin Podziemski — team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State.
• Stephen Curry — 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-10 from deep.

Controversy and ejection

The closing minutes featured a heated exchange. Draymond Green and Devin Booker were assessed technicals after a long on-court dispute.

Draymond Green fouled out with just over a minute remaining and was ultimately ejected. Coach Steve Kerr briefly embraced both Green and Curry before play resumed. Kerr, Green and Curry have been teammates during four championship runs.

With this result, Suns eliminate Curry and Warriors from NBA Play-In Tournament contention. Phoenix will travel to face the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday to start the first round.

Other play-in result: Magic advance

The Orlando Magic routed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 earlier on Friday. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 25 points.

The Magic finished eighth in the East. They will open a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons Sunday night in Detroit.

Orlando and Charlotte notes

• Orlando had five players in double figures. Franz Wagner scored 18 and Wendell Carter Jr. added 16.
• The Magic shot 50 percent for the game and made 8 of 27 from three.
• LaMelo Ball scored 23 for the Hornets. Charlotte missed the playoffs for a 10th straight season.
• The Hornets shot 33.7 percent overall and 26.7 percent from long range.

Orlando built a big lead early. A 13-0 run in the first half and a 36-16 advantage by late second quarter set the tone. The Magic led 102-71 after three quarters and by as many as 35 in the second period.

Reporting for Filmogaz.com.