Deadspin | Suns hope to avoid unfortunate history in play-in finale vs. Warriors 
Dec 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images After letting a chance at advancing out of the NBA play-in tournament slip away Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back in an elimination game Friday.
The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Phoenix led Portland by 11 with less than seven minutes remaining Tuesday before the Trail Blazers came back to advance into the playoffs and move the Suns to the brink of elimination.
The Suns are looking to avoid becoming the first No. 7 seed since the play-in tournament began to drop consecutive games and miss the playoff field since this format was introduced in 2021.
“We addressed it right away,” Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said of the disappointment following the loss to Portland. “The goal is get in, just get in any way possible. It’s been our goal for a while. So we’ve got to move on. Got to move on. It sucks. These are hard to take, but there’s stuff to learn in here that we’ve got to learn fast and do everything we can to get ready for Friday night.”
The Warriors, who finished 10th in the Western Conference, were on the other side of that type of game earlier this week. In their 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday that sent them into Friday’s matchup, they didn’t lead in the second half until Al Horford’s 3-pointer with 2:12 left, rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Golden State star Stephen Curry, who missed more than two months due to a knee injury before returning April 5, is coming off his best game since returning to action.
He had 35 points, hitting a big three in the final minute to break a tie and lift the Warriors in their play-in opener.
“There’s a reason we have four championships, and it’s the competitiveness, the heart, the will (of Curry and Draymond Green),” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s been such a tough year, but to just show what they’re made of, what we’re made of (was big).”
The Warriors won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams, including a 101-97 win Feb. 5 in Phoenix in the most recent matchup.
Curry missed that game due to injury, but figures to be front-and-center in this one.
Suns forward Dillon Brooks said he’s looking forward to the matchup.
“The first quarter is going to really show this game, how I play,” Brooks said. “And then attacking inside.”
Brooks said the matchup against Curry made the matchup even more intriguing.
“One of the best players ever to do it,” Brooks said. “Who else do you want to go against in an elimination game?”
Curry averaged 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists against the Suns this season.
“This is why Steph came back,” Kerr said of Curry’s performance in the play-in opener and his rising to the occasion in big moments. “Everybody out there who thought Steph should’ve taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete.”
Ott said Grayson Allen was progressing after hurting his hamstring in the April 10 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a game-time decision.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Suns #hope #avoid #unfortunate #history #playin #finale #Warriors
Dec 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images After letting a chance at advancing out of the NBA play-in tournament slip away Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back in an elimination game Friday.
The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Phoenix led Portland by 11 with less than seven minutes remaining Tuesday before the Trail Blazers came back to advance into the playoffs and move the Suns to the brink of elimination.
The Suns are looking to avoid becoming the first No. 7 seed since the play-in tournament began to drop consecutive games and miss the playoff field since this format was introduced in 2021.
“We addressed it right away,” Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said of the disappointment following the loss to Portland. “The goal is get in, just get in any way possible. It’s been our goal for a while. So we’ve got to move on. Got to move on. It sucks. These are hard to take, but there’s stuff to learn in here that we’ve got to learn fast and do everything we can to get ready for Friday night.”
The Warriors, who finished 10th in the Western Conference, were on the other side of that type of game earlier this week. In their 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday that sent them into Friday’s matchup, they didn’t lead in the second half until Al Horford’s 3-pointer with 2:12 left, rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Golden State star Stephen Curry, who missed more than two months due to a knee injury before returning April 5, is coming off his best game since returning to action.
He had 35 points, hitting a big three in the final minute to break a tie and lift the Warriors in their play-in opener.
“There’s a reason we have four championships, and it’s the competitiveness, the heart, the will (of Curry and Draymond Green),” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s been such a tough year, but to just show what they’re made of, what we’re made of (was big).”
The Warriors won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams, including a 101-97 win Feb. 5 in Phoenix in the most recent matchup.
Curry missed that game due to injury, but figures to be front-and-center in this one.
Suns forward Dillon Brooks said he’s looking forward to the matchup.
“The first quarter is going to really show this game, how I play,” Brooks said. “And then attacking inside.”
Brooks said the matchup against Curry made the matchup even more intriguing.
“One of the best players ever to do it,” Brooks said. “Who else do you want to go against in an elimination game?”
Curry averaged 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists against the Suns this season.
“This is why Steph came back,” Kerr said of Curry’s performance in the play-in opener and his rising to the occasion in big moments. “Everybody out there who thought Steph should’ve taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete.”
Ott said Grayson Allen was progressing after hurting his hamstring in the April 10 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a game-time decision.
–Field Level Media
![Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/29154804.jpg "Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York")
![Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York](https://i0.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/29154804.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York")
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