Printed On 18 Apr 2026
Jalen Inexperienced’s 36 factors helped raise the Phoenix Suns into the playoffs with a 111-96 play-in win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Friday.
The Suns earned the Western Convention’s eighth postseason seed. They may go to the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Sunday to open a first-round sequence.
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Phoenix scored 30 factors off the Warriors’ 21 turnovers.
After Phoenix let a late lead slip away in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers within the play-in opener, the Suns held on this time.
There was some late drama, although.
With the result already determined, Golden State’s Draymond Inexperienced fouled out with simply greater than a minute remaining. Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared a second with Draymond Inexperienced and Stephen Curry, embracing each. The three have been a part of 4 NBA championship runs.
Nevertheless, as motion resumed, Draymond Inexperienced and the Suns’ Devin Booker started a heated dialogue that carried on for a number of moments earlier than the whistle blew and each gamers have been issued a technical foul. Inexperienced was ejected.
Phoenix jumped out to a giant lead with a 13-0 run after the Warriors scored the sport’s first two factors, then closed the quarter with eight consecutive factors to steer 33-15.
Golden State’s 15 first-quarter factors have been their fewest in 1 / 4 since scoring 14 within the fourth quarter on March 7 in opposition to the Thunder.
The Suns, who shot 52.4 p.c within the first quarter, struggled within the second quarter because the Warriors roared again.
Phoenix was simply 5 of 20 from the sector within the second, and Golden State pulled inside two on Curry’s free throws with 19.6 seconds remaining within the half.
As time ran down, Jalen Inexperienced elevated for a 3-pointer from the wing and drained it for the Suns’ first discipline purpose in additional than 5 minutes to present Phoenix a 50-45 lead on the break.
Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski scored 10 of his team-high 23 factors within the second. He additionally led the Warriors with 10 rebounds.
The Suns used an 11-1 run – that includes two 3-pointers from Jalen Inexperienced – to regain management within the third quarter.
Booker completed with 20 factors, eight assists and 6 rebounds. Phoenix’s Jordan Goodwin added 19 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 steals.
Curry recorded 17 factors within the loss however was simply 4 of 16 from the ground and three of 10 from 3-point vary.
Magic lengthen Hornets’ playoff drought, face Pistons subsequent
Paolo Banchero scored 25 factors to steer 5 gamers in double figures for the host Orlando Magic, who superior to the Jap Convention playoffs by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 within the earlier play-in recreation on Friday.
The Magic, who completed eighth throughout the common season, earned the eighth seed and can face the top-seeded Pistons in a best-of-seven first-round sequence starting Sunday evening in Detroit.
That is the third straight journey to the playoffs for the Magic – the longest streak for the franchise since a team-record six straight appearances from 2007-12.
LaMelo Ball scored 23 factors for the Hornets, who completed ninth within the East. Charlotte earned a dramatic 127-126 time beyond regulation win over the Miami Warmth within the first play-in recreation on Tuesday however missed the postseason for the tenth straight season – the NBA’s longest energetic drought.
Franz Wagner had 18 factors whereas Wendell Carter Jr. completed with 16 for the Magic, who additionally obtained 13 from Desmond Bane and 12 from Jalen Suggs. Orlando shot 50 p.c (42 of 84) from the sector and 29.6 p.c (8-for-27) from 3-point vary.
“If you play with a way of desperation and urgency, when you recognize you’re both going residence otherwise you’re extending your season, that’s what it appears to be like like,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned.
Miles Bridges scored 15 factors, Brandon Miller had 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11 in Charlotte’s most lopsided lack of the season. The guests shot simply 33.7 p.c (28 of 83) from the sector and 26.7 p.c (12 of 45) from past the arc.
Miller’s 3-pointer gave the Hornets their solely lead at 5-4 with 9:58 left within the first quarter. The Magic scored the following 10 factors, after which Bridges and Miller mixed for 5 consecutive factors.
The Magic responded by taking management with a 13-0 run as Carter and Banchero mixed for 11 factors to take a 27-10 lead. Goga Bitadze’s layup gave Orlando its first 20-point lead at 36-16 with 54 seconds left.
The Magic led by as many as 35 within the second earlier than coming into the half with a 68-37 benefit. Orlando led 102-71 on the finish of the third and by as many as 33 within the fourth.
“I hope that this fuels us this offseason, as a result of we did a tonne of actually good issues and gave ourselves a possibility – you’re one step away from being within the playoffs, so I don’t wish to discredit that,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee mentioned. “However this has obtained to, like, harm a bit bit.”
