Suns Eliminate Warriors, Magic Cruise Past Hornets to Seal NBA Playoff Spots

Jalen Green stars as Phoenix Suns knock out Golden State Warriors, while Orlando Magic dominate Charlotte Hornets to clinch final NBA playoff berths.

Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors (Image Source: Google)

The Phoenix Suns ended the Golden State Warriors' season and the Orlando Magic thrashed the Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs' final teams were decided Friday.

Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry's Warriors.

The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.

But Phoenix kept a wasteful Golden State at arms' length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.

With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Steph Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on Phoenix's next possession to secure the win.

Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for Phoenix with Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions.

"Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game," said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.

For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.

In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players -- Draymond Green and Devin Booker -- were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Phoenix fans as he departed.

- Magic outmuscle Hornets -

Orlando beat the Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive and set up a daunting first-round playoff series for the Magic against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points in Orlando's last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at Orlando's Kia Canter.

Banchero bulldozed Charlotte's defense, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone.

Having never trailed by more than a single point, Orlando soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.

Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Bell -- the hero of the Hornets' first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday -- exploded after the break.

He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend Charlotte's season.

But Orlando's lead never dipped below 20 points, as the Magic eased to a win against a Charlotte side that had finished the regular season in strong form.

Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets' decade-long wait goes on.

The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.