Jalen Green scored 36 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 111-96 play-in victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the NBA playoffs. The Suns will now travel to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday to open a first-round series, marking a critical step in their postseason journey after a hard-fought win.
Phoenix capitalized on Golden State’s mistakes, scoring 30 points off 21 Warriors turnovers, which proved decisive in the outcome. Having let a late lead slip against the Portland Trail Blazers in their previous play-in game, the Suns maintained control this time, though late drama ensued: Draymond Green of the Warriors and Devin Booker of the Suns engaged in a heated exchange, resulting in technical fouls for both players and Green’s ejection with just over a minute remaining.
The Suns started strong with a 13-0 run after the Warriors scored the first two points, closing the first quarter with a 33-15 lead. Golden State’s 15 points in the opening period were their fewest in a quarter since March 7. Phoenix struggled offensively in the second quarter, allowing the Warriors to narrow the gap, but Jalen Green’s three-pointer before halftime gave the Suns a 50-45 edge at the break.
In the victory, Jalen Green’s 36 points were complemented by Devin Booker’s 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 19 points, nine rebounds, and six steals. For the Warriors, Brandin Podziemski led with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but Stephen Curry was limited to 17 points on inefficient shooting, going 4-of-16 from the field.
In the earlier Eastern Conference play-in game, the Orlando Magic routed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 to claim the eighth seed, with Paolo Banchero scoring 25 points. The Magic shot 50% from the field and advanced to their third consecutive playoffs, while the Hornets, led by LaMelo Ball’s 23 points, missed the postseason for the tenth straight year. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the team’s desperation, while Hornets coach Charles Lee described the loss as a painful motivator for the offseason.
Source: www.aljazeera.com