NBA: Stephen Curry and Warriors push Suns to the edge of elimination

The Golden State Warriors dominated the Phoenix Suns with a commanding 133-95 victory in Game 4 of their NBA playoff series, leaving the Suns on the verge of elimination. With the win, the Warriors now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, and Phoenix faces an uphill battle to force a Game 5 survival.

Stephen Curry led the charge for Golden State with a stellar 35-point performance, showcasing his trademark shooting accuracy and ability to take control of the game. Curry’s aggressive play on both ends of the floor helped the Warriors break away from the Suns in the second half, as they outscored Phoenix 32-24 in the third quarter to establish a significant lead. The Warriors’ offensive depth was on full display, with Klay Thompson adding 20 points and Draymond Green contributing 15 points and 8 rebounds, making key plays throughout the game.

The Suns struggled to find any rhythm, particularly on defense, as they failed to contain Curry’s perimeter shooting. Phoenix’s star duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant did their best to keep their team in the game, with Booker scoring 26 points and Durant adding 21, but the Suns’ overall performance fell short. Their inability to match the Warriors’ offensive firepower and lack of defensive stops left them with little chance of making a comeback.

The game, which took place at the Chase Center in San Francisco, saw the Warriors assert control early. After a back-and-forth opening half, the Warriors took full advantage of the Suns' defensive lapses and went on a 17-0 run in the third quarter to pull away. Phoenix had no answer for the onslaught, and despite a few late efforts, they were never able to mount a serious challenge. The Warriors’ defense, led by Green, also stifled Phoenix’s scoring opportunities, with the Suns shooting just 43% from the field.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised his team’s all-around effort, stating, “We played with great energy, especially on the defensive end. When you have a guy like Stephen doing what he does best, it gives everyone confidence. But we know there’s still work to be done, and we’ll stay focused on what’s ahead.”

As for the Suns, coach Monty Williams expressed disappointment in his team’s performance and stressed the need for a significant improvement in all areas if they hope to survive the series. “We didn’t execute on both sides of the ball. We’ll go back, review the film, and figure out how to fix this,” Williams said.

The Suns now face a must-win Game 5 at home, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. The Warriors, on the other hand, will look to close out the series and advance to the next round, with Curry and his teammates ready to finish the job.

With the series shifting back to Phoenix, the Suns have no choice but to regroup and mount a strong response to avoid a swift exit from the playoffs. For the Warriors, they know that one more win will secure their place in the next stage of the postseason, keeping their championship dreams alive.

Sources:

• https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/basketball/942159/nba-suns-vs-warriors-april-9-2025/story/ 
• https://sports.inquirer.net/618156/nba-stephen-curry-warriors-leave-suns-on-brink-of-elimination 
• https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401705720 
• https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/gameday-recap-20250408 
• https://www.reuters.com/sports/stephen-curry-warriors-leave-suns-brink-elimination-2025-04-09/