Suns and Warriors Battle for Final Western Conference Playoff Spot

Phoenix and Golden State face off in high-stakes Play-In game with postseason berth on the line

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:22am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and vibrant colors representing a basketball game between the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.The high-stakes battle between the Suns and Warriors for the final Western Conference playoff spot is captured in a cubist, deconstructed painting.Inglewood Today

The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors met on April 17, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix to determine the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The winner of the Play-In matchup would earn the last postseason spot and face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round starting April 19.

Why it matters

This high-stakes showdown between the Suns and Warriors represented the culmination of a tight race for the West's final playoff position. Both teams had battled through injuries and inconsistent regular-season performances to reach this winner-take-all game, adding extra drama and importance to the outcome.

The details

The Suns entered the game as the seventh seed in the West with a 45-37 record, but they had failed to clinch that spot in their previous home game, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Warriors, who finished 10th in the conference at 37-45, had earned their spot in the Play-In by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers on April 15, led by 35 points from Stephen Curry. During the regular season, Golden State held a 3-1 advantage over Phoenix in their head-to-head matchups.

  • The Suns-Warriors Play-In game took place on April 17, 2026.
  • The winner will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs starting April 19, 2026.

The players

Devin Booker

The Suns' leading scorer, averaging 26.1 points per game during the regular season.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors' superstar, who scored 35 points in the team's Play-In win over the Clippers.

Jordan Ott

The Suns' head coach, who addressed the team's need to learn from their previous loss and get into the playoffs.

B. Podziemski

The Warriors' leading scorer during the regular season, averaging 13.8 points per game.

Draymond Green

The Warriors' veteran forward, who averaged 5.5 rebounds per game in the regular season.

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What they’re saying

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

— Jordan Ott, Suns Head Coach

“That was fun. That's what you live for right there.”

— Stephen Curry

What’s next

The winner of the Suns-Warriors Play-In game will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs beginning on April 19, 2026.

The takeaway

This high-stakes matchup between the Suns and Warriors represents the intensity and drama of the NBA's Play-In tournament, where teams battle for the final playoff spots and a chance to compete for the championship.