Phoenix Suns eliminate Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors for final NBA playoff spot

[p]Jalen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/green-draymond/fDcC7RbR/"]Green[/a] put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/phoenix-suns/M1Gy2pra/"]Phoenix[/a] with a 111-96 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/curry-stephen/xx3787qL/"]Stephen Curry[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/golden-state-warriors/SxUtXqch/"]Warriors[/a].[/p][p]The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.[/p][p]But Phoenix kept a wasteful Golden State at arm's length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.[/p][p]With barely a minute left, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/goodwin-jordan/UenDyw5h/"]Jordan Goodwin[/a] intercepted a pass intended for Steph Curry, and scored a transition bucket before adding a three-pointer on Phoenix's next possession to secure the win.[/p][p]Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for Phoenix with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/a], the defending NBA champions.[/p][embed guid="e345f02f-4135-4494-a8e5-ee7218a8ba75" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2045384417468723473" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game," said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.[/b][/p][p]For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.[/p][p]In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players -- Draymond Green and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/booker-devin/4MFGDB1n/"]Devin Booker[/a] -- were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Phoenix fans as he departed.[/p][p]The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/golden-state-warriors-SxUtXqch/phoenix-suns-M1Gy2pra/?mid=z3PGNro1"]Check out the game summary with Flashscore.[/a][/p]