PHOENIX — Jalen Green poured in 36 points, Devin Booker added 20 and the Phoenix Suns neutralized Stephen Curry as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in the NBA play-in tournament Friday night.
The victory gave Phoenix the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder that begins Sunday. Golden State’s season ended.
Green was extremely efficient, hitting 14 of 20 shots and drilling 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Guard Jordan Goodwin made a major impact on both ends, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
The night was a personal rebound for Green after a difficult seven-game meeting with the Warriors last season while he was with Houston, when he averaged 13.3 points and shot 37% from the field. “I remember what they did last year. ... There's a lesson in every situation,” Green said. “It's never failure. You always get back up. So, I for sure brought some of that energy from last year into tonight's game, and we capitalized. I'm happy about it.”
Late in the fourth quarter Booker and Golden State’s Draymond Green were assessed technical fouls following a verbal exchange and were ejected.
