Suns Lock Down Curry, End Warriors' Season in Play-In Tournament
The Phoenix Suns delivered a defensive masterclass to eliminate the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in the NBA's play-in tournament on Friday night, securing the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Jalen Green exploded for 36 points, shooting an impressive 14 of 20 from the field and 8 of 14 from three-point range, while Devin Booker contributed 20 points. However, the story of the game was Phoenix's suffocating defense on Stephen Curry, holding the legendary guard to just 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Phoenix's Defensive Dominance and Ejections
Jordan Goodwin was a standout for the Suns, adding 19 points, nine rebounds, and six steals, disrupting Golden State's offense throughout the contest. The game grew heated in the fourth quarter, with both Booker and Warriors forward Draymond Green receiving two technical fouls after multiple verbal exchanges, leading to their ejections. Phoenix built a commanding lead, up by five at halftime and extending it to 69-53 late in the third quarter after a fast-break layup by Royce O'Neale. Despite Brandin Podziemski leading the Warriors with 23 points, Golden State's season came to an abrupt end.
The Suns will now face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday. This marks a significant turnaround for Phoenix, which capitalized on its defensive intensity to advance.
Magic Dominate Hornets, Set Up Pistons Playoff Clash
In the other play-in matchup, the Orlando Magic unleashed a first-half onslaught to crush the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, earning the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Paolo Banchero led the way with 25 points, as Orlando raced out to a 38-16 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on Charlotte's poor shooting and six turnovers. The Magic extended their advantage to 35 points by halftime, with Wendell Carter Jr. adding 10 points in the early surge.
Charlotte's Struggles and Orlando's Playoff Return
LaMelo Ball managed 23 points for the Hornets, but 21 of those came in the third quarter when the game was already out of reach. Ball was scoreless with two turnovers before fouling out early, highlighting Charlotte's offensive woes. This victory is particularly meaningful for Orlando, which has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and hasn't won a playoff round since 2010. The Hornets, who had beaten the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not reached the playoffs since 2016.
Orlando will now travel to face the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series on Sunday, looking to break their postseason drought. The Magic's balanced attack and stifling defense proved too much for a Charlotte team that faltered under pressure.
