Suns end Warriors run

Phoenix beat Golden State 111-96 on Friday night in the Western Conference play-in, ending the Warriors’ season and sending the Suns into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. (espn.com) Jalen Green scored 36 points for Phoenix and hit 8 of 14 three-pointers, while Devin Booker added 20 points. Jordan Goodwin finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals. (nba.com) (espn.com) Phoenix held Stephen Curry in check and pulled away in the second half after leading 52-48 at halftime. The Suns outscored the Warriors 59-48 after the break in the win at home. (nba.com) (foxsports.com) The result finalized the Western Conference bracket on April 17 and set up a first-round series between Phoenix and top-seeded Oklahoma City. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Oklahoma City enters that series as the defending NBA champion and the West’s No. 1 seed after a 64-18 regular season. Phoenix finished 45-37, then survived the play-in after missing a direct top-six playoff berth. (espn.com) (basketball-reference.com) The play-in format gives teams that finish seventh through 10th a path into the postseason, with the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds decided in a final elimination game. Phoenix reached that game after losing its first play-in matchup, while Golden State’s loss ended its run outright. (nba.com) (si.com) For Golden State, the loss closed a season that ended with the Warriors in 10th place in the West at 37-45. Phoenix finished ahead of them in the standings, earned home court for the play-in finale, and used it to move on. (espn.com) (usatoday.com) Now the West opens with Oklahoma City against Phoenix instead of a Thunder-Warriors matchup, and the Warriors are out before the first round begins. Phoenix gets 48 hours to turn a season-saving win into a series against the conference favorite. (nba.com) (espn.com)