NBA Playoffs: Suns eliminate Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States — The Phoenix Suns ended the Golden State Warriors' season and the Orlando Magic thrashed the Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs' final teams were decided Friday (Saturday, Manila time). 

Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry's Warriors.

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.

But Phoenix kept a wasteful Golden State at arms' length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.

With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Steph Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on Phoenix's next possession to secure the win.

Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for Phoenix with Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions.

"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.

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.

In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players -- Draymond Green and Devin Booker -- were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Phoenix fans as he departed.