Warriors Vs Suns: How Golden State Reaches The NBA Playoffs

After a strong first-round play-in win, the Golden State Warriors face the Phoenix Suns for a place in the playoffs. How can they advance?

The Warriors kept their season alive with a resilient, hard-fought win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the play-in tournament. However, their path is far from complete. Standing in their way are the Suns, with a win-or-go-home battle for a playoff spot presenting a major challenge.

The matchup presents a significantly tougher situation for the Warriors, but if they build on the momentum from the impressive victory over the Clippers, they will give themselves a fair chance. They will need to be at their best, with every area of their game under scrutiny. So what must the Warriors do to get over the line and secure another playoff spot in their history?

Warriors Vs Suns: How Golden State Reaches The NBA Playoffs

Slow Start, Strong Finish Against The Clippers

The Warriors showed two very different sides of their performance against the Clippers. In the first half, they struggled offensively and were forced onto the back foot for the majority of it. Stephen Curry went 2-for-9 from the field in the first half, scoring just eight points. However, he completely took over in the third quarter to lead the comeback.

Despite that, the Warriors had little control for much of the game and even faced a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit. However, they gradually worked their way back through improved energy and execution.

The comeback was impressive, but they won’t be able to rely on similar recoveries against a team like the Suns. Phoenix has already been beaten three times by Golden State this season. With the pressure of avoiding becoming the first 7th seed in play-in history to miss the playoffs, they will be highly motivated to respond.

With Devin Booker averaging 26 points this season, he will likely be the Warriors’ key threat down the stretch. Even if he is contained, the Suns still have enough star power to punish another slow start by the Warriors.

Draymond Green Must Maintain Defensive Control

Against the Clippers, Draymond Green proved why he is a former Defensive Player of the Year. His two clutch steals on one of the greatest shooters of this generation, Kawhi Leonard, were decisive moments that helped swing the game in Golden State’s favor.

Green and the team forced Leonard to just 21 points on 47% shooting, including 1-of-6 from three-point range. Green maintained that defensive pressure throughout, even limiting the two-time NBA champion to just two points in the fourth quarter.

However, against the Suns, Green must maintain that same level of composure and defensive intensity. With experienced scoring threats such as Booker, alongside young, dynamic scorers like Jalen Green, any lapse in focus could prove costly. With the Warriors’ defensive struggles well-documented, they must rely on Green’s leadership and control to give themselves a chance of advancing to the playoffs.

Stephen Curry Remains The Key Factor

Curry recently returned from a two-month absence due to a knee injury and immediately silenced the doubters, erupting for 35 points against the Clippers, knocking down a total of seven threes. His performance helped justify the decision to manage his minutes leading up to the play-in tournament, and it paid off.

“This is why Steph came back.”

Steve Kerr shared a blunt message to the people who wanted Steph Curry to sit out the rest of the season pic.twitter.com/mdTBjC0BeK

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2026

The 12-time All-Star went on a generational scoring run that Dub Nation will not forget, scoring 16 points in just six minutes of the third quarter against the Clippers. But he must carry that momentum into the matchup against the Suns if the Warriors are to stay competitive.

Curry has carried the weight of the franchise for over a decade. The team has consistently struggled without him on the floor or when he has off nights. Because of that, he will need to perform at the highest level in Phoenix. Curry last faced the Suns in December 2025, scoring 28 points. His ability to create space and shoot gives him every chance to match or even surpass that performance, but doing so against a team with one of the top 10 defensive ratings this season will be difficult.

If the secondary scorers and bench players can also step up as they did in the first-round matchup, it will take significant pressure off the four-time champion, as he continues to work back to full rhythm following injury.

If Curry maintains this level of performance, even at the age of 38, the Warriors will give themselves a strong chance of advancing to the playoffs and setting up a

tough first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But will it be enough to cause the upset?

Featured Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Warriors Vs Suns: How Golden State Reaches The NBA Playoffs

Warriors Vs Suns: How Golden State Reaches The NBA Playoffs

Slow Start, Strong Finish Against The Clippers

Draymond Green Must Maintain Defensive Control

Stephen Curry Remains The Key Factor

About Rakin Harrasy

Related Articles

2026 NBA Draft: Top Point Guard Prospects Outside The Top Five

3 Key Takeaways From Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Finals Game 1

Gauging The Top Three Trail Blazers’ Coaching Candidates

Blockbuster 4-Team Raptors Trade Sends Jalen Suggs To Toronto, Pistons Get A Co-Star While Hornets And Magic Solve Crucial Issues

Stay in the Game

Share This Article