Southeast Asian star speaks out, 'Chef' Curry and Warriors eliminated from 2026 NBA Playoffs

A lackluster performance by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors officially ended their chance to participate in this year's NBA playoffs.

The Phoenix Suns decisively concluded the Golden State Warriors' season with a convincing 111-96 victory in the NBA 2025-2026 play-in game held on April 18 morning Vietnam time. This result secured the Suns the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a playoff matchup against reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The standout player of the game was Filipino-American shooter Jalen Green, who delivered an explosive performance scoring 36 points. The former Houston Rockets player was particularly effective beyond the arc with 8 three-pointers and also made 14 free throws. Additionally, superstar Devin Booker contributed 20 points, playing a key role in helping the Suns control the game.

Not only efficient in offense, the Suns also demonstrated solid defense. Jordan Goodwin scored 19 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 6 steals, becoming a major disruptive force against the opponent's offense.

On the other side, Stephen Curry had a forgettable game, scoring only 17 points with a shooting efficiency of 4/16. The 38-year-old star was largely contained by the Suns' tight defensive system. Meanwhile, Brandin Podziemski was a rare bright spot for the Warriors with 23 points.

The game also became tense late in the fourth quarter when Devin Booker and Draymond Green repeatedly clashed, resulting in both receiving technical fouls and being ejected.

Regarding the flow of the game, the Suns maintained a steady advantage for most of the time. They led by 5 points after the first quarter, then increased the gap to 69-53 by mid-third quarter. Despite Warriors' efforts to close the gap, Coach Jordan Ott's squad held firm and ended the game with a 15-point margin.

Coach Steve Kerr and his players will "head to Cancun" early and face an uncertain future, as the team's biggest star, "Chef" Stephen Curry, is aging. Coach Kerr also left open the possibility of continuing his journey with the Chase Center's home team next season.