All articles tagged with #phoenix suns
Devin Booker blasted referee James Williams by name after a third-quarter technical, saying Alex Caruso influenced the call in Suns’ 120-107 Game 2 loss to the Thunder. He labeled the officiating as bad for the sport, contributing to Phoenix falling 0‑2 in the series, with broadcasters and fans abuzz over the call.
The Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in Game 1 of the first-round series, turning 34 Suns turnovers into 19 points and building a large lead early that the Suns could not overcome. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 25 points, while Devin Booker topped Phoenix with 23; Phoenix played without Mark Williams due to left foot soreness. OKC led 65-44 at halftime and cruised to the win, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 119-84 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Paycom Center, as OKC jumped out to a big lead and held Phoenix to 34.9% shooting; Jalen Williams added 22 and Chet Holmgren 16, while Devin Booker led Phoenix with 23 in a lopsided defeat that gives the Thunder a 1-0 series lead and sets up Game 2 in Oklahoma City.
Bright Side of the Sun kicks off its playoff coverage with a Game Thread for Suns vs. Thunder in Game 1, inviting fans to discuss the Western Conference matchup as Round 1 gets underway.
Golden State’s playoff bid ends with a loss to Phoenix in the play-in as Draymond Green punches Devin Booker late, earning an ejection and prompting questions about the Warriors’ future and Kerr’s job security for the age-38 Curry era.
Jalen Green scored 36 to lift the Phoenix Suns past the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in a Play-In elimination game, securing the No.8 seed and a first-round matchup with top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Stephen Curry had 17 for Golden State as injuries and a tough night limited their run, while Phoenix, aiming to rebuild fan trust after recent upheaval, starts a new playoff chapter.
In the 2026 NBA Play-In, the Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors as 2.5-point favorites with a 219.5 total. SportsLine’s projection model, after 10,000 simulations, leans toward a Suns win and the Under, projecting Curry around 23.5 points and Booker around 24.9, with full picks available at SportsLine.
Friday’s SoFi Play-In doubleheader features East No. 9 Charlotte Hornets at No. 8 Orlando Magic (7:30 PM ET, Prime Video) and West No. 10 Golden State Warriors at No. 8 Phoenix Suns (10 PM ET, Prime Video). The preview highlights Paolo Banchero, LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker and Stephen Curry, with Ball vs. Suggs and Curry vs. Brooks as key matchups, and predicts Charlotte and Golden State will advance to the playoffs.
Phoenix’s Play-In loss to Portland highlighted a structural flaw: the Suns are undersized and lacking a reliable power forward, making Deni Avdija a repeatedly dangerous mismatch. The piece argues the roster is too wing-heavy and imbalanced, suggesting upgrades at the power-forward spot (potentially via trades or development of young forwards like Rasheer Fleming, Ryan Dunn, or Oso Ighodaro) to regain contending form next season.
Portland rallied from a late deficit to beat Phoenix 114-110, clinching the Western Conference playoff spot and earning a first-round date with San Antonio, powered by Deni Avdija’s 41 points. In the East, Charlotte forced overtime and edged Miami 127-126 on LaMelo Ball’s go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left, with Ball finishing 30 points and 12 assists as Miles Bridges sealed it with a buzzer-block, keeping the Hornets’ play-in hopes alive as other results determine their path.
Deni Avdija poured in 41 points, including a go-ahead and-1 with 16.1 seconds left, as Portland erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Phoenix 114-110 in the SoFi NBA Play-In, sealing the Western Conference No. 7 seed to face the Spurs in the first round; Phoenix will host the Clippers-Warriors winner for the No. 8 seed.
On opening night of the NBA Play-In, Portland rallied to beat Phoenix 114-110 to clinch the West No. 7 seed, with Deni Avdija driving for a layup and an and-1 with 16.1 seconds left to take the lead. The Suns now face the Clippers-Warriors winner for the No. 8 seed. In the East, Charlotte outlasted Miami 127-126 in OT as LaMelo Ball, despite a rough shooting night, delivered the go-ahead layup in overtime and Coby White hit a clutch tying 3 to force OT; Ball’s late heroics helped the Hornets advance to face the loser of the 76ers-Magic game. Bam Adebayo missed time with a back injury for Miami, ending their season. The night also produced draft implications, with Chicago picking up a future first-rounder from Portland as part of a 2021 trade that benefited the Bulls.
Tuesday’s SoFi Play-In features East No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Charlotte Hornets and West No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7 Phoenix Suns, with previews highlighting Charlotte’s 3-point shooting and Bam Adebayo’s matchup, plus Devin Booker vs. Jrue Holiday as marquee duels; the Hornets and Suns are favored to advance to the next round in their respective brackets.
Portland finished 42-40 for its first winning season in five years and earned the No. 8 seed, setting up a Play-In showdown with the Phoenix Suns that could secure the No. 7 seed and a first‑round date with the Spurs. Veterans emphasize the postseason’s intensity while a group of young players, including Henderson and Sharpe, prepare for their first playoffs, making the Play-In feel like a meaningful, high‑stakes test rather than a mere detour.
The piece breaks down the Western Conference Play-In opener between the Blazers and Suns, where the winner earns the 7th seed and a direct path to the first round, while the loser plays a Friday game for the 8th seed. It notes Portland’s higher volume of three-point attempts but poorer shooting, Phoenix’s strong defense and free-throw edge, and a tight statistical balance overall. Key factors include inside scoring and drawing fouls for Portland, Suns’ perimeter defense and Booker/Avdija’s impact, rebounding battles, and which team gets hot from deep or protects the ball. There isn’t a clear favorite; outcome hinges on execution, pace, and who can capitalize on trips to the foul line and the arc on Tuesday night.