One game. One shot at the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors meet Friday night in a winner-take-all Western Conference play-in elimination game, with the No. 8 seed and a first-round date with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on the line.
For Phoenix, it is the definition of a second chance. The Suns entered Tuesday’s play-in as the No. 7 seed the more comfortable position but let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers against the Portland Trail Blazers. Now they have 48 minutes to save their season.
Golden State comes in riding momentum after one of the more unlikely comebacks of the play-in era. The Warriors were down late against the LA Clippers, a team most expected to end their season and they found a way anyway. That is what Stephen Curry does.
For deeper insights into this matchup, read more in our Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns game charts breakdown.
How to Watch: Suns vs. Warriors Play-In Game
- Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
- Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
- Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video (exclusive)
- Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
- How to stream: Amazon Prime subscription required ($14.99/month). A free 30-day trial is available for new members.
How Both Teams Got Here
Phoenix Suns: A Collapse That Stings
The Suns entered Tuesday’s 7-8 matchup against Portland as home favorites. They even built the lead they needed. Then they could not hold it.
Jalen Green led Phoenix with 35 points and Devin Booker added 22, and the Suns were in position to close it out in the fourth quarter. But Deni Avdija took over for Portland scoring or assisting on 16 of the Blazers’ final 24 points and Portland won 114–110. A late Avdija Eurostep with the foul and a go-ahead bucket in the final 37 seconds sealed it.
Booker pointed to specific breakdowns after the game: missed free throws and defensive lapses in the most critical moments. For a team that built its identity around defense this season, those lapses were particularly costly.
Phoenix dropped into the elimination game. History offers a small sliver of hope: only two teams in the first five years of the play-in tournament lost the 7-8 matchup but still came back to earn the 8 seed. The Suns are trying to become the third but you can read more about Phoenix Suns face Golden State Warriors.
Golden State Warriors: Curry Does It Again
The Warriors were not supposed to win on Wednesday night. They entered the Clippers matchup as heavy underdogs, with a team that was 8-33 when trailing after three quarters. They trailed again. Then Curry happened.
Golden State won 126–121, outscoring LA 43-32 in the fourth quarter. Curry finished with 35 points, including 27 in the second half and a go-ahead three-pointer with just over 50 seconds left. Draymond Green was instrumental defensively down the stretch, making two critical plays to protect the lead.
The Warriors are in the play-in tournament for the third straight year. This is a group that knows how to win when seasons are on the line.
Season Context: Two Teams With Identical Problems
Here is something worth noting about this matchup that most previews will overlook: both of these teams have been struggling offensively for months.
Since the All-Star break, Golden State went 8-19, averaging 112.7 points per game, 27th in the NBA. Phoenix was not much better at 13-14 in the same stretch, scoring just 110.5 points per game, good for 28th in the league. These are two teams searching for offensive rhythm at the worst possible time.
The difference is that Golden State has the best player on the floor in this game. That matters enormously in a one-game, winner-take-all scenario.
If you want a broader look at Phoenix’s season form and recent performances, check out our detailed breakdown of the Phoenix Suns and their playoff push.
Phoenix Suns season summary:
- Final record: 44-37 (No. 7 seed entering play-in)
- Led by Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks offensively
- Built a top defensive identity with one of the league’s highest turnover rates forced
- Collin Gillespie emerged as a reliable third option, including a 30-point, 10-assist career game vs. Portland in the regular season
Golden State Warriors season summary:
- Lost Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL early in the season — a wound they never fully recovered from
- Entered as the No. 10 seed
- Won the regular-season series vs. Phoenix 3-1, with Phoenix’s only win coming on December 18 (99-98)
- Veteran core of Curry and Draymond Green kept them afloat despite a brutal schedule of lineup changes
The Head-to-Head Record Matters Here
Golden State and Phoenix met four times this regular season. The Warriors won three of them. The Suns’ only victory was a one-point game in December. The most recent matchup was February 5, trade deadline day and it ended with a late collapse by Phoenix in a 101-97 loss.
Late collapses. It is a theme that keeps following this Suns team, and it will be the defining question Friday night.
Key Matchup: Can Phoenix Stop Curry?
The entire game plan for Phoenix comes down to one question: how do you stop Stephen Curry in a game he has to win?
The short answer is you probably cannot fully stop him. But you can try to make it harder.
Phoenix’s defense is built on forcing turnovers and disrupting rhythm rather than elite individual on-ball coverage. Curry thrives in open space and on the move. Slowing the pace, forcing half-court possessions, and limiting Golden State’s transition opportunities gives Phoenix its best chance.
The challenge is that Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen the most likely primary defenders on Curry are not lockdown perimeter defenders. The Suns will need team-level communication and help rotations to compensate. If they get Curry into a steady rhythm early, this game could get difficult fast. The matchup had already been framed as a must-win scenario, with the Phoenix Suns facing the Golden State Warriors for the final playoff spot, and see the brutal clash between Phoenix Suns and Warriors.
One valid strategy: make the Warriors’ offense run entirely through Curry. If Phoenix can neutralize the supporting cast and force Golden State into a one-man show, the Suns’ defensive structure gives them a real shot. Draymond Green averaged 6.5 points, 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his final six regular season games, so his facilitation role is significant cutting off those connections matters.
What Phoenix Needs to Do to Win
1. Control the tempo. The Suns are better in half-court, structured possessions. Every Warriors fast break makes Phoenix’s job harder.
2. Eliminate turnovers. Phoenix forced one of the league’s highest turnover rates this season but on the other side, they cannot afford to give the Warriors easy buckets. Golden State’s defense-to-offense transition with Curry pushing is devastating.
3. Booker and Dillon Brooks must be efficient, not just active. Booker shot just 61.5% from the free throw line in the loss to Portland a major issue for a player who shoots 87.3% from the line for the season. Both stars need to be difference-makers, not just participants.
4. Win the fourth quarter. This Suns team has a pattern of late-game issues. Against Portland, against Golden State in February, the pattern showed itself. Breaking that habit tonight is not optional it is the ballgame.
What Golden State Needs to Do to Win
1. Keep Curry in rhythm. He has done this before, repeatedly, in play-in and playoff situations. The Warriors’ job is to get him the ball in the right spots early and let him take over.
2. Avoid careless turnovers. Phoenix will be aggressive defensively. Sloppy ball-handling especially against a team that creates so many turnovers could swing momentum instantly.
3. Get contributions beyond Curry. The Warriors cannot be a one-man show for 48 minutes. Supporting players need to knock down open looks when Phoenix collapses on Curry, which they will.
4. Manage Draymond’s minutes smartly. Green is dealing with a knee issue. His defensive IQ is irreplaceable in late-game situations Phoenix’s coaching staff will know every minute management decision the Warriors make.
Players to Watch
Stephen Curry (Golden State): The most important player on the floor. His 35-point performance vs. the Clippers 27 in the second half is a reminder of what he is capable of when everything is on the line. This is his arena.
Devin Booker (Phoenix): Phoenix’s best player and leader. The weight of this game is on him. After 22 points against Portland, he needs a full, efficient 40-minute performance.
Dillon Brooks (Phoenix): One of the more underrated storylines of Phoenix’s season. Brooks averaged 20.4 points per game and provided the defensive toughness this team needed all year. He will likely guard Curry for stretches and needs to stay out of foul trouble.
Draymond Green (Golden State): Not a scorer — but his orchestration on both ends is what makes the Warriors function. Watch his defensive positioning and pick-and-roll coverage as the game tightens.
Collin Gillespie (Phoenix): Emerged as an X-factor this season. Had a career-high 30 points vs. Portland in the regular season and went 8-of-14 from three in one earlier game. If he is hitting, Phoenix’s offense becomes much harder to game plan against.
What Is at Stake Beyond Tonight
The winner earns the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and faces the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions, in the first round, starting Sunday, April 19.
That is a difficult matchup either way. But both teams have proven they can compete in pressure situations. Getting to the playoffs is the first goal. What comes after is a different problem.
For Golden State specifically, simply reaching the playoffs after losing Jimmy Butler and enduring one of their most difficult seasons in years would be a significant achievement validation that the Curry era still has something left.
FAQs
When is the Suns vs. Warriors play-in game?
Friday, April 17, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET.
What channel is the Suns vs. Warriors game on?
Amazon Prime Video exclusively. You need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.
Why are the Suns in the elimination game?
Phoenix lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 114-110 in Tuesday’s 7-8 play-in game, dropping them into the do-or-die elimination round.
How did the Warriors qualify for this game?
Golden State defeated the LA Clippers 126-121 in Wednesday’s 9-10 game, with Stephen Curry scoring 35 points.
What is the Suns-Warriors regular season record?
Golden State won three of the four regular-season meetings. Phoenix’s only win was a 99-98 game on December 18.
Who wins if the Suns beat the Warriors?
The winner earns the No. 8 seed in the West and faces the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs starting April 19.
Who is the most important player in this game?
Stephen Curry. His ability to take over elimination games is well-documented, and his 35-point performance against the Clippers proved he still has it.
Have teams ever recovered from losing the 7-8 play-in game?
Yes, it has happened twice in the first five years of the play-in format. Phoenix is trying to become the third team to pull it off.