Did the Warriors Win Tonight? Play-In Loss and Season Update

Golden State Warriors fans expected a playoff push this season, but the 2025-26 campaign ended earlier than hoped. After clawing their way through the play-in tournament, the Warriors fell to the Phoenix Suns 96-111 on April 17, 2026, according to ESPN’s live coverage. The result marked the end of a season that never quite found its rhythm despite flashes of the team’s championship pedigree.

Playoff Status: Eliminated in play-in tournament ·
Final Score: 96-111 loss to Suns ·
Season Record: 37-45 ·
Peak: 73-9 in 2015-16

Are the Warriors out of the playoffs?

Yes. The Warriors’ season ended on April 17, 2026, when the Phoenix Suns eliminated them 111-96 in the NBA play-in tournament, according to ESPN’s live game coverage. Golden State entered the play-in as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference and could not overcome the Suns after already winning one play-in game earlier that week.

The path to elimination went through Phoenix. The Suns jumped to a 13-2 lead early and never trailed in the game, powered by Jalen Green’s 36-point performance that included eight three-pointers. The final margin of 15 points reflected Phoenix’s dominance throughout, as reported by ESPN’s play-in coverage.

Play-in tournament result

• Warriors defeated Clippers 126-121 on April 15, 2026
• Suns defeated Warriors 111-96 on April 17, 2026
• Suns earned No. 8 seed, advanced to first round

The Warriors needed to win two play-in games to reach the traditional playoff bracket. After handling the Clippers, they ran into a Suns team that had more on the line and delivered the knockout blow.

Postseason elimination details

The Warriors completed their season with a 37-45 record, per ESPN’s team schedule data. This marked their third straight season without meaningful postseason success since the championship window of the late 2010s. The elimination to the Suns came on the second attempt at the play-in, after Golden State had survived the first round by beating the Clippers.

What place are the Warriors in right now?

The Warriors finished the 2025-26 regular season at 37-45, placing them 10th in the Western Conference and well outside the typical playoff picture. ESPN’s Warriors schedule confirms this record, which included stretches of inconsistency throughout the year. The team needed the play-in tournament just to have a chance at the postseason.

In the play-in structure, the 10th seed faces the 9th seed with the winner advancing to face the 7th seed. Golden State won that initial matchup against the Clippers before falling to Phoenix. The Suns, meanwhile, finished 45-37 and entered the play-in as the 7th seed, per Land of Basketball’s team records.

Current conference standings

• Warriors: No. 10 seed, 37-45 overall record
• Suns: No. 8 seed after play-in win, 45-37 overall record
• Thunder: No. 1 seed, defending champions

The standings reflect the widening gap between the Warriors and true contenders. Golden State’s 37 wins would have been enough for playoff contention in weaker conferences, but the Western Conference’s depth kept them on the outside looking in.

Regular season finish

Golden State’s 37-45 record represents a significant drop from the team’s historical success. The Warriors’ all-time best regular season came in 2015-16, when they went 73-9. This season’s performance showed how far the franchise has fallen from that standard, as documented across multiple seasons of struggles since their last championship run.

Did the Warriors win the finals?

No. The Warriors have not won an NBA Finals since 2022, when they captured their fourth championship in eight years. Their most recent Finals appearance came in 2019, when they lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games despite battling significant injuries. The 2025-26 season marks the third straight year without a championship run.

The Warriors won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers both times. Those years represented the peak of the dynasty built around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, the current roster faces a much different reality than that dominant stretch.

Recent finals history

• 2022: Warriors defeated Celtics 4-2 for fourth championship
• 2019: Warriors lost to Raptors 4-2 in Finals
• 2018: Warriors defeated Cavaliers 4-0 in Finals
• 2017: Warriors defeated cavaliers 4-1 in Finals

The finals history shows a franchise that dominated for a stretch but has struggled to return to that level. Each of the four championships featured Curry as the driving force, but the supporting cast has changed significantly since 2022.

Championship records

Golden State owns four NBA championships in the modern era: 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Each victory came with Stephen Curry as the franchise cornerstone. The 2022 title marked a return to glory after years of injuries and roster turnover. Since then, the Warriors have not reached that level again, as shown by the 2025-26 season’s early exit.

Did the Warriors win tonight?

No. The Warriors lost their most recent play-in game 96-111 to the Phoenix Suns on April 17, 2026. This defeat ended their season, as reported by ESPN’s live coverage of the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Suns controlled the game from the opening minutes, building an early 13-2 lead that set the tone for the evening.

Before that loss, the Warriors had won their previous game. On April 15, 2026, Golden State defeated the LA Clippers 126-121 in the first round of the play-in tournament. That victory kept their season alive for a few more days before the Suns ended their run.

Latest game recap

• April 17: Warriors 96, Suns 111 — Suns advance
• April 15: Warriors 126, Clippers 121 — Warriors advance
• Jalen Green: 36 points, 8 threes for Suns

The contrast between the two games told the story of the Warriors’ week. Against the Clippers, they shared the ball well and got key contributions from multiple players. Against the Suns, they never found their rhythm.

Score and highlights

The Warriors’ 96 points against the Suns represented a low-scoring night for an offense that had relied on Curry’s shooting throughout the season. Phoenix’s defense, combined with Jalen Green’s explosive performance, proved too much. Green tied his career high with eight three-pointers in the win, as documented by ESPN’s game summary.

Does Stephen Curry have a ring?

Yes. Stephen Curry has won four NBA championships, all with the Golden State Warriors. His championship rings came in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Curry is widely considered the greatest shooter in NBA history and has been the centerpiece of Golden State’s dynasty since the team drafted him in 2009.

Curry’s most recent championship came in 2022, when the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in six games. That victory capped a remarkable comeback season for a franchise that had missed the playoffs in the previous two years. Curry earned Finals MVP honors for the first time in his career during that series.

Curry championship count

• 2015: Defeated Cavaliers 4-2
• 2017: Defeated Cavaliers 4-1
• 2018: Defeated Cavaliers 4-0
• 2022: Defeated Celtics 4-2

Each championship represented a different challenge for Curry and the Warriors. The 2015 title established the dynasty. The 2017 and 2018 wins came against a Cleveland team led by LeBron James. The 2022 championship showed Curry could still deliver when the stakes were highest.

Career points leaders

Curry scored 35 points in the Warriors’ play-in win over the Clippers on April 15, 2026, per ESPN’s game records. That performance showed the veteran guard still had plenty left in the tank despite the team’s overall struggles. Curry has been the Warriors’ primary offensive option for over a decade, accumulating tens of thousands of career points along the way.