Suns Fall Short in Play-In Game Against Warriors

Phoenix's season ends with loss in battle for final playoff spot

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:30am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of orange, blue, and gold.The Suns' season ends in a hard-fought battle against the veteran-led Warriors in the play-in tournament.Phoenix Today

The Phoenix Suns' season came to an end on Wednesday night as they fell to the Golden State Warriors in a high-stakes play-in game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Suns, who had a strong regular season, were unable to overcome the Warriors' experience and firepower, losing by a final score of 108-97.

Why it matters

The Suns' loss is a disappointing end to what had been a promising season for the team and its fans. Phoenix was hoping to build on last year's playoff run, but ultimately came up short against the veteran-laden Warriors squad. This marks the second straight year the Suns have missed the playoffs after making it in 2021.

The details

The Suns kept the game close for much of the night, but the Warriors pulled away in the fourth quarter behind strong performances from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Phoenix was led by Devin Booker's 27 points, but the team struggled to find consistent scoring from its supporting cast. In the end, the Suns' lack of playoff experience proved to be their downfall against the battle-tested Warriors.

  • The play-in game took place on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The Suns finished the regular season with a 45-37 record, earning them the 9th seed in the Western Conference.

The players

Devin Booker

The Suns' star guard and leading scorer, who had 27 points in the loss.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors' veteran point guard, who led his team to victory with a strong performance.

Klay Thompson

The Warriors' sharpshooting guard, who provided a scoring boost alongside Curry.

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What they’re saying

“The goal is to get in, just get in any way possible.”

— Devin Booker, Suns Guard

What’s next

The Suns will now enter the offseason looking to make roster improvements and come back stronger next year, while the Warriors will move on to the first round of the playoffs.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough pill to swallow for the Suns, who had high hopes for this season. However, the team can take solace in the fact that they had a successful regular season and will look to build on this experience in the future. The Warriors, on the other hand, continue to show their championship pedigree, even in the play-in tournament.