Farewell Warriors! 36+35! The First Play-in Tournament Legend Emerges

The final NBA playoff spot~

Warriors starters Santos + Draymond Green + Porzingis + Podziemski + Curry; Suns starters Goodwin + Dillon + Iguodaro + Jalen Green + Booker.

In the first play-in game, Warriors 126-121 Clippers; Suns 110-114 Trail Blazers.

It was thought the Warriors could ride the momentum of their first win to overpower the Suns, but unexpectedly the situation unfolded differently.

The Suns started the first quarter with a 33-15 offensive surge, but the Warriors stabilized the game with a 30-17 run in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, Jalen Green had a super breakout, shooting 5-for-7 for 13 points alone, helping the Suns lead 78-69 over the Warriors, entering the decisive final quarter with a 9-point advantage.

The fourth quarter saw both teams locked in a tight battle, but the Suns always managed to slightly edge out the Warriors, ultimately securing a 111-96 victory at home. They will face the defending champion Thunder as the Western Conference's eighth seed.

Goodbye Warriors, farewell Curry, a season plagued by a wave of injuries officially comes to a close for them.

The 38-year-old Curry had a poor performance, shooting 4-for-16 for only 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists; conversely, Podziemski, hailed as Curry's successor, carried the banner, scoring 23 points plus 10 rebounds for a double-double on 17 attempts.

On the Suns' side, Jalen Green shot 14-for-20, efficiently racking up 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, powerfully filling the stat sheet. Booker maintained steady output with 20 points plus 6 rebounds and 8 assists, shooting 10-for-10 on free throws.

Against the Trail Blazers: 7-for-2 on threes, 35 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists; against the Warriors: 14-for-8 on threes, 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists.

The media outlet Inside the Sun posted: "Jalen Green is undoubtedly the Suns' best performer in the play-in tournament."

These two play-in games indeed served as a successful vindication for Jalen Green. Last postseason, averaging 31.3 minutes per game, he only managed 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, with shooting percentages as low as 37.2% and a mere 29.5% from three-point range. This led to the Rockets being upset by the Warriors in a 'Black Seven' scenario, and he faced heavy criticism, which was also a key factor in his trade to the Suns.