Arizona, USA: Jalen Green scored 36 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 111-96 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday, securing the Western Conference’s eighth seed in the playoffs.
Phoenix will now face the defending champions and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in the opening game of their first-round series.
“Sometimes the road’s not always the one that you choose… sometimes it’s the least traveled,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “We found our way in, now it’s on to the next thing.”
The Suns capitalised on 21 turnovers by Golden State, converting them into 30 points, and bounced back after letting a late lead slip in their play-in opener against Portland.
There was late drama despite the result being settled, as Warriors forward Draymond Green fouled out with just over a minute remaining. Coach Steve Kerr shared an emotional moment with Green and Stephen Curry, with the trio having been part of four championship-winning teams.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching but I get it,” Kerr said, with his contract expiring this summer. “There’s a run that happens and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new ideas.”
Green was later ejected after a heated exchange with Phoenix’s Devin Booker, with both players receiving technical fouls.
Phoenix surged early with a 13-0 run and led 33-15 after the first quarter, limiting Golden State to their lowest-scoring quarter since early March.
The Warriors responded in the second period, cutting the deficit to two late in the half before Green hit a three-pointer to give the Suns a 50-45 lead at the break.
Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski led his team with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Curry finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. De’Anthony Melton added 16 points off the bench.
The Suns pulled away in the third quarter with an 11-1 run, again sparked by Green from beyond the arc. Booker finished with 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin contributed 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
“Sometimes it just comes down to toughness,” Ott said.
