NBA: Jalen Green, Suns shoot past Warriors, will play Thunder in playoffs

Al Jazeera · 🇶🇦 public Qatar · Apr 18, 2026 · 930 words · By Reuters

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What to know about NBA: Jalen Green, Suns shoot past Warriors, will play Thunder in playoffs

Curry, Warriors knocked out of NBA play-in tournament by Suns Stephen Curry struggled with just 17 points as the 2026 NBA champions season was ended by the Phoenix Suns in the final play-in elimination match.

Claims checked 30

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Jalen Green’s 36 points helped lift the Phoenix Suns into the playoffs with a 111-96 play-in win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Friday.

Common ground

The Suns earned the Western Conference’s eighth postseason seed.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: NBA: Jalen Green, Suns shoot past Warriors, will play Thunder in playoffs?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The Magic responded by taking control with a 13-0 run as Carter and Banchero combined for 11 points to take a 27-10 lead?
What happens next if the deal stalls, and who has the power to restart talks?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/4/18/curry-warriors-knocked-out-of-nba-pla…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 30 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 20

help Insufficient Evidence 3

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

cancel Disputed 1

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “The Magic responded by taking control with a 13-0 run as Carter and Banchero combined for 11 points to take a 27-10 lead.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “The visitors shot just 33.7 percent (28 of 83) from the field and 26.7 percent (12 of 45) from beyond the arc.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Phoenix’s Jordan Goodwin added 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 4: “Draymond Green fouled out with just more than a minute remaining.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

The evidence provided regarding Draymond Green fouling out refers to a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 3), not the play-in game against the Phoenix Suns described in the claim.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Draymond Green fouled out at an inconvenient time during Game 3 between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Green has been physical against the Timberwolves all nig…
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Draymond Green fouled out of Game 3 Saturday night and finished with two points, five rebounds and six fouls.Green played only 11 of 24 minutes in the second half, and after he fouled out with 4:38 le…
https://www.si.com/nba/timberwolves/onsi/minnesota-timberwol…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Draymond Green fouls out, GSW vs wolves game 3, NBA game, basketball, warriors vs timberwolves.Watch how Draymond Green caught two fouls in under a minute during a recent NBA game!
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/draymond-green-worst-fouls

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Claim 5: “This is the third straight trip to the playoffs for the Magic – the longest streak for the franchise since a team-record six straight appearances from 2007-12.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 6: “The Suns earned the Western Conference’s eighth postseason seed.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general information about the city of Phoenix and the Suns franchise, but no specific source confirms they earned the 8th seed for the 2025-26 season.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2021 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2020–21 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, the Eastern…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_NBA_Finals

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2021 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2020–21 season. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the NBA for the second consecutive year, the regular s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_NBA_playoffs

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Wester…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Suns

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 7: “Golden State’s 15 first-quarter points were their fewest in a quarter since scoring 14 in the fourth quarter on March 7 against the Thunder.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found to support or refute the claim regarding the Warriors' lowest quarter score since March 7.

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Claim 8: “Phoenix was just 5 of 20 from the field in the second”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “Orlando shot 50 percent (42 of 84) from the field and 29.6 percent (8-for-27) from 3-point range.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski scored 10 of his team-high 23 points in the second. He also led the Warriors with 10 rebounds.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 11: “Orlando led 102-71 at the end of the third and by as many as 33 in the fourth.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 12: “Draymond Green and the Suns’ Devin Booker began a heated discussion... both players were issued a technical foul. Green was ejected.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web sources confirm the confrontation between Draymond Green and Devin Booker, the issuance of technical fouls, and Green's subsequent ejection.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Draymond Green and Devin Booker went back-and-forth late in the game before BOTH getting ejected SUB TO HOUSE OF HIGHLIGHTS FOR MORE Follow HoH Instagram:...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zVjLALoT5E

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker reflected on his confrontation with Draymond Green by using an analogy that took a slight jab at the Warriors forward.Devin Booker on his interaction with Draymond Green…
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/devin-b…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Devin Booker told referee Draymond Green punched him in Warriors' loss to Suns.“Devin Booker told Scott Foster that I punched him in the stomach, which is a lie,” Green said on the latest episode of “…
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/d…

cancel

Claim 13: “Phoenix jumped out to a big lead with a 13-0 run after the Warriors scored the game’s first two points, then closed the quarter with eight consecutive points to lead 33-15.”

DISPUTED

One source (Yahoo Sports) mentions a 33-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, but another source mentions a '34-4 first quarter run' which contradicts the specific sequence of a 13-0 run after the Warriors scored the first two points.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Main article: History of the Golden State Warriors.At 59–23, the Warriors had the league's best record during the 1975–76 season. They were upset, however, by the 42–40 Phoenix Suns in seven games in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — This run effectively ended the game as the Warriors wouldn’t get close to catching up to the Suns until the middle of fourth quarter, where they scored 43 to the Suns 26.
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2019/10/30/20941375/carri…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Golden State Warriors...
https://www.nba.com/warriors/

check_circle

Claim 14: “They will visit the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday to open a first-round series.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Suns vs Thunder Predictions and NBA Playoffs 2026 schedule) confirm the Suns will play the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are identified as the top seed and defending champions, with Game 1 on Sunday.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025–26 Oklahoma City Thunder season is the 18th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 59th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the second time in franchise history, and t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–26_Oklahoma_City_Thunder_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025–26 Phoenix Suns season was the 58th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 33rd season at the Mortgage Matchup Center. It is also their third f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–26_Phoenix_Suns_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Valley Suns are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League and the affiliate of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Based in Tempe, Arizona, and officially c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Suns

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 15: “Jalen Green elevated for a 3-pointer from the wing and drained it... to give Phoenix a 50-45 lead at the break.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “Booker finished with 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 17: “Stephen Curry struggled with just 17 points as the 2026 NBA champions season was ended by the Phoenix Suns in the final play-in elimination match.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources (CBS Sports and NBA.com) confirm Stephen Curry scored 17 points in a 111-96 loss to the Suns in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Seth Adham Curry (born August 23, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one y…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Curry

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wardell Stephen Curry II ( STEF-ən; born March 14, 1988), also known as Steph Curry ( STEF), is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Asso…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Curry

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In basketball, the three-point revolution or the 3-point revolution is the rapid strategic growth of National Basketball Association (NBA) offenses towards attempting three-point field goals, beginnin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_revolution

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 18: “Phoenix scored 30 points off the Warriors’ 21 turnovers.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence mentions the Suns scored 13 points off 9 turnovers in the first quarter, but there is no evidence confirming the total of 30 points off 21 turnovers for the whole game.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2020–21 Phoenix Suns season was their 53rd season as a franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 28th season at the Footprint Center. The Suns achieved their first w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–21_Phoenix_Suns_season

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 19: “The Magic, who finished eighth during the regular season, earned the eighth seed and will face the top-seeded Pistons in a best-of-seven first-round series beginning Sunday night in Detroit.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 20: “Miles Bridges scored 15 points, Brandon Miller had 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11 in Charlotte’s most lopsided loss of the season.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 21: “The Suns, who shot 52.4 percent in the first quarter”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found to support or refute the specific shooting percentage of the Suns in the first quarter.

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Claim 22: “Goga Bitadze’s layup gave Orlando its first 20-point lead at 36-16 with 54 seconds left.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 23: “Paolo Banchero scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for the host Orlando Magic, who advanced to the Eastern Conference playoffs by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in the earlier play-in game on Friday.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 24: “Franz Wagner had 18 points while Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 for the Magic, who also received 13 from Desmond Bane and 12 from Jalen Suggs.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 25: “Curry recorded 17 points in the loss but was just 4 of 16 from the floor and 3 of 10 from 3-point range.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 26: “The Magic led by as many as 35 in the second before entering the half with a 68-37 advantage.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 27: “LaMelo Ball scored 23 points for the Hornets, who finished ninth in the East.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 28: “Charlotte earned a dramatic 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the first play-in game on Tuesday but missed the postseason for the 10th straight season – the NBA’s longest active drought.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 29: “Jalen Green’s 36 points helped lift the Phoenix Suns into the playoffs with a 111-96 play-in win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Friday.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the score (111-96) and the result (Suns win over Warriors) are corroborated by other sources, the specific detail about Jalen Green scoring 36 points is only mentioned in one Yahoo Sports snippet. Other sources do not list the top scorer for this specific game.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kelly Paul Oubre Jr. ( OO-bray; born December 9, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oubre played one season of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Oubre_Jr.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stephen Douglas Kerr (born September 27, 1965) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Kerr

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 30: “Miller’s 3-pointer gave the Hornets their only lead at 5-4 with 9:58 left in the first quarter.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.