The Phoenix Suns have been rebuilt around the Big Three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal and are expected to compete at the top of the Western Conference standings this regular season. Instead, first-year coach Frank Vogel's team entered the final week of the 2023-24 season hoping to avoid a play-in tournament.
There are two games remaining on the schedule, with Phoenix facing the Sacramento Kings on Friday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Phoenix (47-33) had Thursday off, but there was a big game to watch featuring Sacramento and the New Orleans Pelicans (two teams on either side of the Suns).
The Suns were hoping that a Kings win would move Phoenix back into sixth place and knock them out of the play-ins, but the Pelicans built an early 20-point lead and held off a comeback from Sacramento to hold on for the win. Ta. Attempt.
New Orleans plays the Golden State Warriors on Friday and finishes the season at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. These two teams have solidified themselves as play-in teams, but they could still overtake Sacramento and enter the game at 7-8, making it easier to make the playoffs.
This result sealed Sacramento's fate in the play-in, but their own fate will depend on whether they avoid the single-elimination 9-10 bracket. They play Phoenix on Friday and finish the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Phoenix can avoid the play-in altogether by winning their remaining two games 2-0, but they also need help with at least one loss to New Orleans.
This is a photo from the Western Conference playoffs.
Where are the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Western Conference playoff standings?
| place | team | record | game back | Past 10 items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | denver nuggets | 56-24 | — | 7-3 |
| 2 | minnesota timberwolves | 55-25 | 1 | 7-3 |
| 3 | oklahoma city thunder | 55-25 | 1 | 6-4 |
| Four | Los Angeles Clippers | 51-29 | Five | 7-3 |
| Five | dallas mavericks | 50-30 | 6 | 9-1 |
| 6 | new orleans pelicans | 48-32 | 8 | 5-5 |
| 7 | phoenix suns | 47-33 | 9 | 6-4 |
| 8 | sacramento kings | 45-35 | 11 | 4-6 |
| 9 | golden state warriors | 45-35 | 11 | 9-1 |
| Ten | Los Angeles Lakers | 45-35 | 11 | 7-3 |
