If you’re here for the result; the Phoenix Suns lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 114–110 on April 14 in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Portland’s Deni Avdija scored 41 points and led a stunning fourth-quarter comeback after the Suns had built an 11-point lead. It was a brutal way to lose a game the Suns looked to have in hand.
But the Suns are not eliminated. As the 7-8 play-in loser, Phoenix Suns gets a second chance. They will face the winner of the April 15 Warriors–Clippers game on Friday, April 17, with the winner claiming the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Lose that, and the season ends.
For a full statistical breakdown, read more in our Warriors vs Suns 2026 Play-In game charts guide.
How the Game Unraveled
The Suns controlled most of this game. They won the season series 2–1 against Portland and came in as the more experienced team. For three quarters, that looked like the right read.
Then Avdija happened. After Phoenix Suns built their biggest lead of the night in the fourth quarter, Portland went on a 17–5 run, almost entirely off Avdija’s back to flip the result. The Suns had chances down the stretch but couldn’t close. Portland stopped them with 16.1 seconds left, sealing one of the more dramatic play-in finishes in recent memory. Click here to watch live score of this strong Clash and as well as for upcoming matches….
Grayson Allen, who’d been a key contributor all season, was out with left hamstring soreness. His absence hurt the Suns’ perimeter spacing at the worst possible time.
The 2025–26 Season Nobody Expected
Before any of this, take a step back and appreciate what this Suns season actually was. After the Kevin Durant superteam era collapsed, most observers including national outlets predicted Phoenix Suns would spend this year rebuilding quietly, likely finishing outside the top 10 in the West.
Instead, the Suns finished 44–37, good for the 7th seed in the Western Conference. That’s not just a mild overperformance. It was one of the more surprising turnarounds in the league this season.
The offseason trade that sent Durant to Houston in a seven-team deal brought back Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a collection of draft assets. On paper, it looked like a downgrade. In practice, it gave Phoenix Suns something they hadn’t had in years: clarity, chemistry, and a roster that actually wanted to play together.
Jordan Ott: The Coaching Hire That Worked
A significant portion of the credit goes to first-year head coach Jordan Ott, who replaced Mike Budenholzer after Budenholzer was fired in April 2025 following a single disappointing season.
Ott came from Cleveland’s staff, where he’d helped build one of the league’s best offenses under Kenny Atkinson. Most people expected the defensive end to be his weakness in Phoenix Suns and it was a concern heading into the year, given the Suns had ranked fourth-worst in defensive rating the prior season.
Instead, Ott tightened the defense, steadied the roster through an injury-plagued stretch midseason, and earned Coach of the Month honors in January after leading Phoenix Suns to an 11–5 month. His consistency at a franchise that had now cycled through four head coaches in as many years was itself a stabilizing force.
Devin Booker’s Season: The Real Story
Booker finished the regular season averaging 26.1 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Those are reliable, All-Star-caliber numbers. But the raw averages don’t fully capture how different this season felt for Booker.
After two years of being asked to share the ball with Durant and Bradley Beal in a system that never quite fit anyone, this was the first season in a while where Booker was simply allowed to be Booker. He earned his fifth All-Star selection in February. He joined Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard as the only players in NBA history to reach 17,000 career points and 1,500 three-pointers in 720 games or fewer. He scored a season-high 43 points against Indiana in March.
At 28, he remains the unquestioned centerpiece of this franchise and his two-year max extension, which keeps him in Phoenix through the 2029–30 season, means the Suns are building around him for the foreseeable future.
The Supporting Cast That Made It Work
Dillon Brooks was the season’s biggest surprise contributor. Coming over in the Durant trade, Brooks averaged 20.2 points per game and won the team’s internal Player of the Week award twice — including a stretch where he averaged 28.8 points while Booker was injured in late January. He was chippy, physical, and exactly the kind of player this Suns team needed to change its defensive identity.
Collin Gillespie had a breakout year few predicted. The guard set the Suns’ franchise record for three-pointers made in a single season 227, surpassing the previous mark in early April. He became one of the more reliable starters in the Western Conference by the second half of the season.
Jalen Green, for his part, showed flashes of the talent that made him the No. 2 pick in 2021. He had six three-pointers in his Suns debut in November, and while consistency remained an issue, his ceiling as a second scorer alongside Booker is real.
Grayson Allen contributed some of the season’s more memorable individual performances before hamstring issues interrupted his year. His 42-point, 10-three-pointer game against New Orleans earlier in the season was a franchise-level shooting display.
Phoenix Suns: Franchise Context for Newer Fans
The 2025–26 season fits into a long pattern for this franchise: consistently competitive, never quite over the top.
The Suns have played 58 seasons with an all-time record of 2,509 wins and 2,179 losses, making 33 playoff appearances giving them one of the better all-time winning percentages in the Western Conference. They have reached the NBA Finals three times: 1976, 1993, and 2021. They have never won a championship.
Each Finals run came with a different identity. The 1976 team anchored by Alvan Adams and Paul Westphal was a surprise that came from an expansion franchise barely eight years old. The 1993 team had Charles Barkley, who won the MVP that year and dragged Phoenix to a seven-game series against the Chicago Bulls. The 2021 team, with Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton, had the league’s best record (64–18) and went up 2–0 on Milwaukee before losing in six.
The Steve Nash era (two back-to-back MVPs, 2005 and 2006) never produced a Finals appearance despite some of the most electrifying basketball the league has seen. Nash, Shawn Marion, and Amar’e Stoudemire ran the “Seven Seconds or Less” offense that changed how the modern NBA thinks about pace and spacing.
Thirteen Hall of Famers have worn a Phoenix uniform. The franchise has never been irrelevant for long.
Key Facts at a Glance
| 2025–26 Regular Season Record | 44–37 |
| Western Conference Seed | 7th (Play-In) |
| Play-In Result | Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 114–110 |
| Next Game | April 17 vs. Warriors/Clippers winner (8-seed game) |
| Head Coach | Jordan Ott (1st season) |
| Booker Season Averages | 26.1 PPG / 6.0 AST / 3.9 REB |
| All-Time Finals Appearances | 3 (1976, 1993, 2021) |
| Championships | 0 |
What Happens Next
The Suns play again on Friday, April 17 against the winner of Wednesday’s Warriors–Clippers game. Win that, and Phoenix earns the 8-seed and faces the OKC Thunder, the top seed and defending champions in the first round. Lose, and the season is done.
Given what the Suns have already proven this year, neither outcome would be a complete surprise. A team that was supposed to spend the year rebuilding is now one win away from the playoffs. That alone is worth acknowledging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Phoenix Suns eliminated from the playoffs?
No. The Suns lost the 7-8 play-in game to Portland but still have a chance. They play again April 17 for the 8th seed.
What is the Suns’ record this season?
The Suns finished the regular season 44–37.
Who is the Suns’ head coach in 2025–26?
Jordan Ott, in his first year as an NBA head coach.
Why was Mike Budenholzer fired?
Budenholzer was let go in April 2025 after one season due to poor on-court performance.
Who are the best players on the Suns right now?
Devin Booker leads the team, supported by Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, and Grayson Allen.
Is Devin Booker staying with the Suns?
Yes. Booker signed a two-year max extension in July 2025 keeping him in Phoenix through the 2029–30 season.
Who are the greatest players in Suns history?
Charles Barkley (1993 MVP), Steve Nash (back-to-back MVPs in 2005–06), Paul Westphal, Kevin Johnson, and Devin Booker who is now the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
What channel is the Suns’ play-in game on?
All 2026 play-in games are broadcast exclusively on Prime Video.