The Phoenix Suns were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, losing in four games. Despite the loss, Thunder players praised the Suns for their impressive season, which included 45 regular-season wins.
Key points
Phoenix Suns eliminated by Oklahoma City Thunder in playoffs
Suns lost in four games during the first round
Thunder players praised Suns for their competitive season
Suns finished the regular season with 45 wins
Chet Holmgren acknowledged Suns' good coaching
Phoenix SunsOklahoma City ThunderShai Gilgeous-AlexanderChet Holmgren
Thunder praise Booker, Suns 'impressive' season after playoff sweep
“They're a good team," Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren said about the Suns, after Phoenix's season-ending 131-122 home loss in Game 4 on April 27. "They made runs. The games were competitive. They're well coached.
"They gave us different looks, threw different things at us, and we adjusted well, stuck together, and stayed confident in our stuff and made enough plays.”
The Suns were short-handed during the first round against the league's top-ranked defense. They didn't have the inside play from starting big Mark Williams. Grayson Allen missed Games 1 and 2 from a left hamstring strain. Their top 3-and-D backup guard Jordan Goodwin played just five minutes in Game 1, which the Suns lost by 35, and his sore left calf sidelined him thereafter.
Q&A
Why did the Phoenix Suns lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs?
The Suns were eliminated in four games due to competitive performances by the Thunder, who were favored to win.
What was the Phoenix Suns' regular-season record for the 2025-26 season?
The Suns finished the 2025-26 regular season with 45 wins.
Who praised the Phoenix Suns after their playoff exit?
Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren praised the Suns, acknowledging their competitive nature and coaching.
What were the expectations for the Suns in the playoffs against the Thunder?
Expectations were low for the Suns as the series odds heavily favored the Thunder and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) lays the ball up against the Phoenix Suns during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) fights for the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is introduced before tipoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) lays the ball up against the Phoenix Suns during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
3 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
4 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) fights for the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
7 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is introduced before tipoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault knows what it's like to be in a rebuilding stage. When he was hired in 2020 to replace Billy Donovan, the Thunder went from a combined 46 wins during Daigneault's first two years to 68 during their title run last season.
The NBA media expected a gap year in 2025-26 for the Suns, following the Kevin Durant trade and Bradley Beal's contract buyout.
Daigneault didn't want to compare the Thunder's rebuilding process to the Suns, but evaluated first-year head coach Jordan Ott and the Suns' player development.
“The thing that’s impressive for me is the level of foundation that they’ve built this season on both ends of the floor,” Daigneault said. “Despite retooling the team, despite a new coach, on the offensive end, they’re organized. They know what buttons to push. They play the right way every night.
"On the defensive end, they’re competitive, they’re physical, they pressure, they’re solid in their schemes, they don’t make a lot of self-inflicted mistakes. That foundation raises your floor significantly and allows you to build on that.”
Booker hit a game-winning 3 to beat the Thunder 108-105, in Phoenix on Jan. 4, but struggled in this series.
He scored 21.3 points per game but shot an abysmal 25% from 3 and was a combined minus-47.
Gilgeous-Alexander attributed Booker's struggles to Oklahoma City's tight coverage, crowding Booker. The 2024-25 MVP also proclaimed Booker's primary defender, Lu Dort, as “the best in the league at individual matchups.”
But Gilgeous-Alexander understood Booker's approach as a facilitator.
“I have respect for him," Gilgeous-Alexander said about Booker. "You could tell he was out there trying to make the right play. He was playing basketball the right way, playing for his teammates. We were showing him bodies, and he was making reads.
"He obviously didn’t have any crazy scoring outings he’s used to having, but he was playing ball the right way and being aggressive. Our game plan just worked."
Gilgeous-Alexander also lauded his Canadian Olympic teammate Dillon Brooks, who emerged as the Suns' leading scorer (26.0 points) in the playoffs.
“He’s a great competitor," Gilgeous-Alexander said about Brooks. "Great guy. No matter what people say about him, he’s a really good guy when you get to know him. All that villain stuff, it doesn’t phase me. I know exactly who Dillon is. He had a hell of a series. He keeps getting better. I’m proud of him.”
