With the highest payroll in the league, the Phoenix Suns entered the season expecting to compete for a championship, instead they find themselves battling just to make the play-in tournament.
The Suns started the season 8-1 but then went on to lose 13 of the next 19 games to put the team at .500. Phoenix hovered around the .500 mark in January before a dismal month of February saw the Suns end the month with a 3-10 record that saw the team fall to 28-32 overall and 11th in the Western Conference.
But season-ending injuries suffered by San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving, and a steaky Portland Trail Blazers team have helped give the Suns new life despite having the toughest-remaining strength of schedule in the league.
Here’s a look at the Western Conference playoff picture.
Where are Phoenix Suns in the NBA’s Western Conference playoff standings?
Playoff spots
Place Team Record Games Back Last 10
1 Oklahoma City Thunder 52-11 — 8-2
2 Los Angeles Lakers 40-21 11 8-2
3 Denver Nuggets 40-22 11.5 7-3
4 Memphis Grizzlies 39-24 13 3-7
5 Houston Rockets 38-25 14 5-5
6 Golden State Warriors 35-28 17 8-2
Play-in spots
Place Team Record Games Back Last 10
7 Minnesota Timberwolves 36-29 17 6-4
8 Los Angeles Clippers 34-29 18 4-6
9 Sacramento Kings 33-29 18.5 7-3
10 Dallas Mavericks 32-32 20.5 4-6
Below play-in
Place Team Record Games Back Last 10
11 Phoenix Suns 29-34 23 3-7
12 Portland Trail Blazers 28-36 24.5 5-5
13 San Antonio Spurs 26-35 25 3-7