Warriors Eliminated by Suns

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green shared an emotional embrace on the court following the team’s 118-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2026, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The defeat ended the Warriors’ season and marked the conclusion of what may have been the final game together for the franchise’s longtime core trio, as both Curry and Green are entering the final years of their contracts and face uncertain futures with the team moving forward.

Emotional Moment After Season-Ending Loss

With the Warriors eliminated from playoff contention, Curry, who finished with 28 points, six rebounds, and five assists, walked over to Kerr and Green near the baseline after the final buzzer. The three longtime teammates embraced for several seconds, with Curry appearing visibly moved as he buried his face in Kerr’s shoulder. Green, who contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, held tightly to both men before pulling away to acknowledge the Phoenix crowd.

Kerr, in his 10th season as Golden State’s head coach, later described the moment as reflective of the bond built over nearly a decade of sustained success, including four NBA championships between 2015 and 2022. “We’ve been through so much together,” Kerr said in his postgame press conference. “That hug wasn’t just about tonight. It was about everything we’ve accomplished and everything that comes next.”

Curry and Green Face Contract Uncertainty

The loss carried added significance due to the contract status of Curry and Green. Stephen Curry, 38, has two years remaining on his supermax contract with a player option for the 2027-28 season. Draymond Green, 35, is in the final year of his deal, set to become a free agent in July 2026 unless he exercises his player option for 2026-27, which he has not yet committed to doing.

Both players have expressed desire to remain with the Warriors, but the franchise faces significant salary cap constraints and questions about its long-term direction following the departure of Klay Thompson in free agency last summer. Golden State’s ownership has indicated a willingness to pay the luxury tax to retain its core, but no contract extensions have been finalized as of mid-April 2026.

Season Recap and Playoff Outlook

The Warriors entered the Play-In Tournament as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference with a 42-40 record, needing to win two games to reach the playoffs. They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in the first game on April 14, with Curry scoring 35 points, but were unable to overcome a balanced Suns attack led by Devin Booker’s 34 points and Kevin Durant’s 26 in the decisive second game.

Phoenix, seeded No. 10, advanced to face the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns improved to 45-37 on the season after securing the Play-In victory, while Golden State’s campaign ended with a record of 42-41.

Despite the loss, Kerr praised his team’s resilience throughout a season marked by injuries to key role players and inconsistent performances from the bench. “We fought until the end,” Kerr said. “That group in that locker room deserves a lot of credit for how they competed all year.”