Phoenix secured the 8 seed with a 111-96 victory over Golden State, ending the Warriors' season in the play-in tournament. Jalen Green delivered 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, while Devin Booker contributed 20 before both were ejected following technical fouls with Draymond Green. Stephen Curry managed just 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, a stark contrast to his earlier heroics against the Clippers.

The Suns built an early 13-2 lead after forcing four turnovers, pushing the advantage to 33-15 in the first quarter. Golden State rallied to cut the deficit to 50-45 by halftime, but Phoenix maintained control through strategic execution. Jordan Goodwin's defensive impact with six steals and nine rebounds further anchored the home team's performance.

Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis played only 15 minutes due to right ankle soreness from Wednesday's game, finishing with 11 points. The Suns avoided becoming the first team to lose both home play-in games, capitalizing on Curry's inefficient shooting and the Warriors' inability to overcome early deficits. This victory marks Phoenix's first playoff berth since 2021.

The Suns now face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Sunday, with their redemption arc complete after Tuesday's collapse against Portland.