In a nail-biting finish, Jusuf Nurkic’s crucial free throw propelled the Phoenix Suns to a thrilling 108-107 victory over the Sacramento Kings in the dying seconds.
The Suns displayed their dominance on a three-game road trip to cap off the season, outshining the hosts in the final moments to clinch the win. Contributions came from every player, with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker delivering the decisive plays.
This hard-fought win has boosted the Suns’ record to 48-33, securing them no lower than the seventh seed in the Western Conference, as per the NBA standings. They are now focused on avoiding the dreaded play-in round by winning their upcoming three games, starting with Minnesota on Sunday.
Phoenix Suns Will Finish in the 7th Spot in a Worst-Case Scenario
Looking ahead to Monday, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves pose a challenge against Kevin Durant and the Suns. A loss here could prove costly, especially if LeBron James and the Lakers emerge victorious in New Orleans, pushing the Suns into the play-in round.
In this scenario, the Suns would hold the seventh seed, with the Lakers in eighth. If the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors also lose their final regular-season games, the standings will remain unchanged.
To complete the first part of their mission, the Phoenix Suns must triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday away from home.
Following this, the LA Lakers (46-35) would need to lend a helping hand to the New Orleans Pelicans (49-32) in securing a win against the Suns, moving them up to the sixth spot in the Western Conference.
Should the Suns and Pelicans finish with identical records, Phoenix holds the tiebreaker and would secure a playoff spot.
However, if Durant and the Suns achieve victory over the Lakers, but the Pelicans also win, they will slip to the seventh seed. The matchups for the 7-8 play-in round would then be determined by the results of the Golden State Warriors (45-36) and the Sacramento Kings (45-36).
The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, currently ninth and tenth in the Western Conference, are set for an intense win-or-go-home showdown. And wouldn’t a championship clash between Kevin Durant’s Suns and LeBron James’ Lakers be a thrilling spectacle if it comes to that?