Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats
The phoenix suns vs golden state warriors match player stats from the April 18, 2026 NBA Play-In game tell a much clearer story than the 111-96 final score alone. Phoenix defeated Golden State at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, using a huge first quarter, efficient shooting, aggressive defense, and a 36-point performance from Jalen Green to take the West 8th Seed Game. The Suns finished with a 15-point victory, while Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points.
For anyone looking beyond the final score, this matchup is particularly interesting because the basic numbers point in several different directions. Golden State shot 45 percent from the field and made 11 of 33 three-point attempts, while Phoenix shot 48 percent overall and connected on 18 of 49 from three. The Warriors also made 19 of 23 free throws, but Phoenix went a perfect 15 for 15 from the line. The biggest statistical separation came in turnovers and steals. Golden State committed 20 turnovers and recorded only five steals, while Phoenix committed 12 turnovers and produced 14 steals.
Those numbers help explain why the Suns were able to control the game even though the Warriors had stretches of competitive offensive play.
Game Overview
The game was played on April 18, 2026, as the NBA Play-In West 8th Seed Game. Phoenix entered with a 45-37 regular-season record and a strong 25-16 home record. Golden State entered at 37-45, including a 15-26 record on the road.
Phoenix ultimately won 111-96.
The quarter-by-quarter scoring shows exactly where the game was shaped:
| Quarter | Golden State Warriors | Phoenix Suns |
| 1st | 15 | 33 |
| 2nd | 30 | 17 |
| 3rd | 24 | 28 |
| 4th | 27 | 33 |
| Final | 96 | 111 |
The first quarter was decisive. Phoenix outscored Golden State 33-15, creating an 18-point advantage almost immediately.
Golden State responded strongly in the second quarter, scoring 30 points while holding Phoenix to 17. That reduced the halftime gap considerably and prevented the game from becoming an early blowout.
However, Phoenix regained control after halftime. The Suns scored 28 points in the third quarter and another 33 in the fourth. Golden State managed 24 and 27 in those periods, respectively.
The pattern is important. This was not simply a game where Phoenix built a lead and survived a late Warriors comeback. The Suns absorbed Golden State’s best response and then extended their advantage again.
Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats: Key Numbers
The overall team statistics provide the foundation for understanding the individual performances.
| Statistic | Golden State Warriors | Phoenix Suns |
| Points | 96 | 111 |
| Field Goals | 33-74 | 39-81 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 45% | 48% |
| 3-Point Field Goals | 11-33 | 18-49 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 33% | 37% |
| Free Throws | 19-23 | 15-15 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 36 |
| Assists | 22 | 23 |
| Turnovers | 20 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 14 |
| Blocks | 0 | 4 |
One of the most interesting points is that Phoenix did not dominate the rebounding battle. Golden State actually collected 39 rebounds compared with Phoenix’s 36.
The assist numbers were also close. The Warriors had 22 assists, while the Suns had 23.
That means the victory was not built around a huge rebounding or assist advantage.
Instead, Phoenix separated itself through efficiency, ball security, perimeter scoring, and defensive activity.
Shooting efficiency
Phoenix made 39 of 81 field-goal attempts, a 48 percent rate. Golden State made 33 of 74, shooting 45 percent.
That three-percentage-point difference might look modest, but the Suns also had the advantage from three-point range.
Phoenix made 18 of 49 attempts from beyond the arc, or 37 percent. Golden State made 11 of 33, or 33 percent.
The Suns therefore made seven more three-pointers than the Warriors.
That is a major scoring difference.
Seven additional made three-pointers represent 21 points, which is larger than Phoenix’s final 15-point margin. Of course, the teams took different numbers of attempts, and overall scoring comes from more than three-point shooting, but the perimeter gap was clearly one of the defining elements of the game.
Free-throw accuracy
Another unusual feature of the box score was Phoenix’s perfect free-throw shooting.
The Suns attempted 15 free throws and made all 15.
Golden State went 19 for 23, which was approximately 83 percent.
So the Warriors attempted four more free throws, but Phoenix still gained an efficiency advantage by converting every opportunity.
In a close playoff-style game, missed free throws can become extremely important. Here, however, Phoenix did not leave points at the line.
Jalen Green’s 36-Point Performance
Jalen Green was the standout scorer for Phoenix, finishing with 36 points.
That was by far the highest individual scoring total provided in the game data.
Green’s 36 points accounted for nearly one-third of Phoenix’s 111 points. His scoring gave the Suns an offensive centerpiece capable of producing points while Golden State attempted to recover from its poor opening quarter.
The significance of the performance is not simply the number 36.
In an elimination-style Play-In environment, a high-scoring performance can change how the opposing defense has to operate. A primary scorer who consistently threatens the defense can create pressure that affects help defenders, closeouts, and defensive rotations.
The available team statistics show that Phoenix finished with 48 percent shooting overall and 37 percent from three. Green’s scoring came within an offense that also received meaningful contributions from several other players.
That balance matters.
If one player scores 36 points while the rest of the offense becomes stagnant, the statistical impact can be misleading. Phoenix instead received 20 points from Devin Booker, 19 from Jordan Goodwin, 13 from Dillon Brooks, and 10 from Oso Ighodaro.
That gave the Suns five listed players in double figures.
Devin Booker Adds 20 Points
Devin Booker finished with 20 points for Phoenix.
Although his total was well below Green’s 36, Booker’s contribution was important because Phoenix did not need one player to carry every possession.
A 20-point performance from a major offensive option gives a team another scoring layer. It also makes it more difficult for a defense to concentrate exclusively on the highest-scoring player.
The combination of Green’s 36 and Booker’s 20 gave Phoenix 56 points from those two players alone.
That is more than half of the Suns’ total scoring.
Jordan Goodwin Scores 19
Jordan Goodwin added 19 points.
His total was only one point below Booker and helped create a three-player scoring group that produced 75 points.
Green, Booker, and Goodwin combined for:
36 + 20 + 19 = 75 points.
Phoenix scored 111 points overall, meaning those three players accounted for a substantial majority of the team’s scoring.
That distribution is one of the clearest takeaways from the individual numbers.
The Suns did not require every player to become a major scorer. Instead, three players carried most of the scoring load while Dillon Brooks and Oso Ighodaro also reached double figures.
Dillon Brooks and Oso Ighodaro Complete the Double-Digit Group
Dillon Brooks scored 13 points, while Oso Ighodaro added 10.
That gave Phoenix five players with at least 10 points.
The scoring hierarchy was therefore:
- Jalen Green: 36
- Devin Booker: 20
- Jordan Goodwin: 19
- Dillon Brooks: 13
- Oso Ighodaro: 10
The 36-point gap between Green and the lowest of these five players was significant, but the distribution still shows that Phoenix had multiple offensive contributors.
This is especially useful when evaluating the game beyond the headline performance.
A team can win with one extraordinary scorer, but a five-player double-digit scoring group provides a more stable offensive foundation.
Brandin Podziemski Leads Golden State
Brandin Podziemski was Golden State’s leading scorer with 23 points.
That made him the only listed Warriors player to reach the 20-point mark.
Podziemski’s 23 points represented almost one-quarter of Golden State’s 96 points. His performance was productive, particularly considering the Warriors’ difficult opening quarter.
However, Phoenix’s leading scorer produced 13 more points.
That individual scoring gap was one of the clearest differences between the teams.
The Warriors needed additional scoring to match the Suns’ offensive production, but the listed totals show that Stephen Curry scored 17, Kristaps Porzingis scored 11, Gui Santos scored 9, and Draymond Green scored 5.
Stephen Curry Finishes With 17
Stephen Curry scored 17 points.
For a player whose offensive reputation is built around high-level scoring and perimeter shooting, 17 points was not enough to match Phoenix’s top offensive production in this particular game.
Curry was also part of a Warriors attack that finished with 11 made three-pointers on 33 attempts.
Golden State’s 33 percent three-point rate was respectable but clearly below Phoenix’s 37 percent.
The more important issue was the overall offensive gap.
Golden State scored 96 points. Phoenix scored 111.
A 15-point difference is substantial in a single postseason game, particularly when the winning team also commits eight fewer turnovers.
Kristaps Porzingis Scores 11
Kristaps Porzingis contributed 11 points for Golden State.
His total placed him in double figures, but the Warriors did not receive the same depth of double-digit scoring shown by Phoenix.
The listed Golden State scoring leaders were:
- Brandin Podziemski: 23
- Stephen Curry: 17
- Kristaps Porzingis: 11
- Gui Santos: 9
- Draymond Green: 5
Based on those listed figures, Golden State had three players at or above 11 points, while Phoenix had five players in double figures.
That difference in scoring distribution is worth noting when evaluating the final result.
Gui Santos and Draymond Green
Gui Santos scored 9 points, while Draymond Green finished with 5.
Their scoring totals were modest compared with the Suns’ main contributors.
Draymond Green’s influence, of course, cannot be judged solely by points in a box score. His role can include playmaking, defense, screening, and organizing possessions.
The team statistics nevertheless show that Golden State finished with 22 assists, 39 rebounds, five steals, and no blocks.
Phoenix recorded 23 assists, 36 rebounds, 14 steals, and four blocks.
The contrast is particularly strong on defense.
Phoenix’s Defensive Pressure Changed the Game
The most striking defensive number is the steal total.
Phoenix recorded 14 steals.
Golden State recorded five.
That is a nine-steal difference.
Even more important, Golden State committed 20 turnovers while Phoenix committed only 12.
That eight-turnover difference directly affected the number of possessions each team could turn into scoring opportunities.
The relationship between turnovers and steals also deserves attention. Phoenix’s 14 steals show that the Suns were actively disrupting Golden State’s possessions rather than merely benefiting from careless offensive play.
The Warriors had 20 turnovers, which means Phoenix’s defense created a significant number of extra opportunities.
The Suns also recorded four blocks compared with zero for Golden State.
Taken together, Phoenix finished with:
- 14 steals
- 4 blocks
- 12 turnovers committed
Golden State finished with:
- 5 steals
- 0 blocks
- 20 turnovers committed
That defensive profile strongly favored Phoenix.
The First Quarter Was the Turning Point
The 33-15 first quarter deserves special attention because it shaped everything that followed.
Phoenix scored 33 points in the opening period.
Golden State scored only 15.
An 18-point first-quarter deficit forces a team to spend the rest of the game recovering rather than controlling the rhythm from the start.
Golden State did exactly what it needed to do in the second quarter. The Warriors scored 30 points while limiting Phoenix to 17.
That produced a 13-point swing in the Warriors’ favor during the period.
But the comeback did not continue after halftime.
Phoenix scored 28 in the third quarter and 33 in the fourth, while Golden State scored 24 and 27.
The Suns therefore won both of the final two quarters.
That is an important distinction.
The Warriors successfully responded to Phoenix’s opening burst, but they could not sustain the comeback.
Why the 111-96 Score Can Be Misleading
A final score gives you the result, but it does not always explain the game.
If someone only sees 111-96, they might assume Phoenix simply outplayed Golden State in every category.
The box score does not support that conclusion.
Golden State actually had more rebounds.
The assist totals were nearly identical.
The Warriors also made 19 free throws compared with Phoenix’s 15.
So why did Phoenix win by 15?
The answer is the combination of three-point production, turnover control, defensive disruption, and the opening-quarter advantage.
Phoenix made seven more three-pointers.
Phoenix committed eight fewer turnovers.
Phoenix produced nine more steals.
Phoenix blocked four shots while Golden State had none.
And the Suns had the game’s leading scorer in Green, who produced 36 points.
The victory was therefore driven by several complementary advantages rather than one overwhelming statistical category.
Phoenix’s Three-Point Advantage
Three-point shooting was one of the easiest ways to see the difference between the teams.
Phoenix:
- 49 attempts
- 18 makes
- 37 percent
Golden State:
- 33 attempts
- 11 makes
- 33 percent
The Suns attempted 16 more three-pointers and made seven more.
This tells us two things.
First, Phoenix was willing to rely heavily on perimeter offense.
Second, the Suns were sufficiently efficient with those attempts to turn volume into meaningful scoring.
Golden State’s 33 percent accuracy was not disastrous, but it was not enough to offset Phoenix’s additional makes.
Turnovers Were an Even Bigger Story
Golden State’s 20 turnovers are perhaps the most revealing statistic in the entire game.
Phoenix had only 12.
That means the Warriors gave the Suns eight more opportunities through lost possessions.
The difference is particularly damaging because Phoenix also had 14 steals.
A turnover is not always converted into immediate points, but live-ball turnovers can create transition opportunities and disrupt defensive organization.
The Suns’ ability to force turnovers while protecting their own possessions helped them maintain control.
This is one of the strongest lessons from the game for anyone analyzing basketball beyond traditional scoring totals.
Possession quality matters.
A team can shoot reasonably well and still lose if it repeatedly gives the opponent additional opportunities.
Rebounding Did Not Decide the Match
Golden State won the rebounding count 39-36.
That is important because it prevents an overly simplistic explanation of the result.
The Warriors did not lose because they were dominated on the glass.
They actually collected three more rebounds.
This suggests that Phoenix’s victory was more about what happened during possessions than how many rebounds were collected.
The Suns were more disruptive defensively, protected the ball better, and produced more three-point makes.
For this particular game, those factors outweighed the Warriors’ modest rebounding advantage.
Phoenix Also Won the Home-Court Battle
Phoenix entered the game with a 25-16 home record.
Golden State entered with a 15-26 road record.
The matchup therefore paired a strong home team with a Warriors team that had struggled more away from home during the regular season.
The final result fit that broader context.
Phoenix won in its home arena, while the Warriors were unable to overcome the early deficit.
Home-court performance should not be treated as a guaranteed predictor, but it can provide useful context when evaluating a single postseason game.
What the Player Scoring Distribution Tells Us
The individual scoring numbers provide a useful contrast.
Phoenix scoring distribution
Jalen Green led with 36.
Devin Booker added 20.
Jordan Goodwin contributed 19.
Dillon Brooks scored 13.
Oso Ighodaro added 10.
The top three scorers combined for 75 points.
Golden State scoring distribution
Brandin Podziemski led with 23.
Stephen Curry scored 17.
Kristaps Porzingis added 11.
Gui Santos scored 9.
Draymond Green scored 5.
The top three listed scorers combined for 51 points.
That is a 24-point difference between the top three listed scorers of the two teams.
Phoenix’s leading three scorers therefore produced considerably more offensive output than Golden State’s leading three.
This is one of the clearest individual-stat explanations for the final result.
A Closer Look at the Offensive Balance
Phoenix scored 111 points from 81 field-goal attempts.
Golden State scored 96 from 74 attempts.
The Suns attempted seven more field goals overall.
That difference is partly connected to turnover control.
When a team commits fewer turnovers, it generally preserves more possessions that can be used for shots, passes, or attacks.
Phoenix’s 12 turnovers compared with Golden State’s 20 gave the Suns a substantial possession-quality advantage.
The Suns also had 23 assists compared with 22 for Golden State, showing that the difference was not caused by Phoenix simply taking isolated shots.
The overall profile was efficient and controlled.
What Golden State Did Well
Despite the loss, Golden State had several positive statistical elements.
The Warriors shot 45 percent from the field.
They made 19 of 23 free throws.
They collected 39 rebounds.
They scored 30 points in the second quarter.
They scored 27 in the fourth quarter.
They also received 23 points from Podziemski and 17 from Curry.
The second-quarter response was especially important because it showed that Golden State could adjust after the disastrous opening period.
The problem was consistency.
The Warriors needed to maintain that level of offensive pressure after halftime, but Phoenix regained the upper hand in both the third and fourth quarters.
What Phoenix Did Best
Phoenix’s strongest areas were more directly connected to winning.
The Suns:
- Scored 111 points
- Shot 48 percent from the field
- Made 18 three-pointers
- Shot 37 percent from three
- Made all 15 free throws
- Recorded 14 steals
- Blocked four shots
- Committed only 12 turnovers
- Had 23 assists
- Received 36 points from Jalen Green
The perfect free-throw performance is also worth highlighting.
Phoenix did not surrender points at the line.
When combined with the three-point advantage and turnover margin, that efficiency helped create enough separation to win comfortably.
Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats: A Practical Reading Guide
When evaluating a box score like this, it is useful to avoid focusing only on the top scorer.
A better approach is to examine the game in layers.
Step 1: Start with the final score
Phoenix won 111-96.
That establishes the result but does not explain it.
Step 2: Check shooting
Phoenix shot 48 percent compared with 45 percent for Golden State.
Then examine three-point shooting.
Phoenix made 18 threes compared with 11 for Golden State.
That immediately reveals a major scoring advantage.
Step 3: Check turnovers
Phoenix committed 12.
Golden State committed 20.
This is another major separator.
Step 4: Check defensive activity
Phoenix recorded 14 steals and four blocks.
Golden State had five steals and zero blocks.
The defensive disruption clearly favored Phoenix.
Step 5: Examine scoring depth
Phoenix had five listed players in double figures.
Golden State had three listed players at or above 11 points.
That gives context to the individual performances.
Step 6: Look at the quarter scores
Phoenix’s 33-15 first quarter created the foundation of the win.
Golden State’s second-quarter response was strong, but Phoenix controlled the final two periods.
This sequence explains the game better than the final score by itself.
The Most Important Statistical Lessons
Several conclusions stand out from the complete box-score profile.
1. The three-point gap mattered
Seven additional made threes gave Phoenix a major scoring advantage.
2. Ball security mattered
Eight fewer turnovers allowed Phoenix to protect possessions and limit Golden State’s opportunities.
3. Defense created separation
The 14-5 steal advantage and 4-0 block advantage show how active Phoenix was defensively.
4. Green’s scoring changed the offensive ceiling
Jalen Green’s 36 points gave Phoenix a major individual advantage.
5. Phoenix had broader scoring depth
Five listed Suns players reached double figures.
6. The Warriors’ second quarter was not enough
Golden State won the second quarter 30-17 but could not maintain that momentum.
7. Rebounding was not the decisive factor
Golden State won the rebound battle 39-36, yet still lost by 15.
This is a useful reminder that basketball games are rarely explained by a single box-score category.
The Role of Context in Player Statistics
Player statistics should always be interpreted within the context of the game.
For example, Curry’s 17 points might look different depending on shooting volume, defensive attention, and team efficiency. Similarly, Green’s 36 points tell us he was the game’s most productive scorer, but they do not by themselves explain every aspect of Phoenix’s victory.
The team numbers provide that additional context.
Phoenix did not simply rely on Green.
The Suns also had Booker at 20, Goodwin at 19, Brooks at 13, and Ighodaro at 10.
Likewise, Golden State’s result cannot be blamed entirely on Curry.
The Warriors’ 20 turnovers and five steals compared with Phoenix’s 12 turnovers and 14 steals show a team-level difference that goes beyond one player.
Why the First Quarter Matters So Much
The opening period deserves to be treated as a separate analytical event.
Phoenix scored 33 points.
Golden State scored 15.
That means Phoenix scored more than twice as many points as Golden State in the first quarter.
The Warriors then produced 30 points in the second, nearly doubling their first-quarter output.
This suggests that Golden State was capable of offensive improvement, but the initial deficit forced the team into recovery mode.
Phoenix’s ability to score 28 in the third and 33 in the fourth prevented that recovery from becoming a comeback.
The fourth quarter was especially important.
The Suns outscored the Warriors 33-27, meaning Phoenix finished the game by increasing its lead rather than merely protecting it.
The Final Result in One Statistical Snapshot
The game can be summarized through five numbers:
111: Phoenix’s final score.
96: Golden State’s final score.
36: Jalen Green’s points.
20: Golden State turnovers.
14: Phoenix steals.
Those numbers capture the central story.
Phoenix scored efficiently, Green delivered a huge individual performance, and the Suns repeatedly disrupted Golden State’s possessions.
What the Game Says About Individual Impact
Individual statistics matter most when they connect to team outcomes.
Green’s 36 points clearly contributed to Phoenix’s 111 points.
Podziemski’s 23 points made him Golden State’s leading scorer, but the Warriors still finished 15 points behind.
Booker’s 20 and Goodwin’s 19 meant Phoenix had multiple reliable scoring options.
Curry’s 17, Porzingis’ 11, and the lower totals from Santos and Draymond Green left Golden State without the same scoring depth shown by Phoenix.
The key lesson is that the highest individual score is only one piece of the puzzle.
The distribution of production across the roster can be just as important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the Phoenix Suns in scoring against the Golden State Warriors?
Jalen Green led Phoenix with 36 points in the April 18, 2026 NBA Play-In game.
Who was Golden State’s leading scorer?
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points.
What was the final score between Phoenix and Golden State?
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors 111-96.
How many three-pointers did each team make?
Phoenix made 18 of 49 three-point attempts, while Golden State made 11 of 33.
Which team had more turnovers?
Golden State had more turnovers, committing 20 compared with Phoenix’s 12.
Which team had more rebounds?
Golden State had 39 rebounds, compared with 36 for Phoenix.
Conclusion
The phoenix suns vs golden state warriors match player stats show that Phoenix’s 111-96 victory was built on much more than Jalen Green’s 36 points.
Green provided the headline performance, while Devin Booker, Jordan Goodwin, Dillon Brooks, and Oso Ighodaro gave the Suns valuable scoring depth. On the other side, Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with 23 points, followed by Stephen Curry with 17 and Kristaps Porzingis with 11.
The team statistics reveal the bigger story. Phoenix shot 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three, compared with 45 percent and 33 percent for Golden State. The Suns made seven more three-pointers, committed eight fewer turnovers, recorded nine more steals, and had four blocks compared with none for the Warriors.
Golden State did have advantages. The Warriors collected 39 rebounds to Phoenix’s 36 and responded strongly in the second quarter by outscoring the Suns 30-17. But Phoenix regained control in the third and fourth quarters and finished the game with a 15-point victory.
The most useful way to understand this matchup is therefore to connect individual production with possession-level statistics. Green’s 36 points mattered, but so did Phoenix’s 14 steals. Booker’s 20 points mattered, but so did the team’s 12 turnovers. Golden State’s 39 rebounds were valuable, but they could not overcome the combination of Phoenix’s perimeter shooting, defensive pressure, and scoring depth.
For readers analyzing player performance, this is the key takeaway: a box score becomes much more informative when individual statistics are read alongside shooting efficiency, turnovers, defensive events, scoring distribution, and quarter-by-quarter performance. That broader view explains not only who scored the most, but why one team ultimately controlled the game.
