Time is ticking. There are just eight (8!) games left in the Phoenix Suns' 2024-25 season.
Just when it looked like the Suns had things figured out, they came crashing back down to reality.
Two play-in spots are realistically up for grabs. Right now, the Suns are on the outside looking in, but things can change quickly if they can get back on track. Dallas won against Orlando somewhat unexpectedly, and the Suns have now dropped two straight, putting them at the 11th seed for now.
Sacramento owns the tiebreaker over Phoenix for now. Phoenix owns the tiebreaker over Dallas.
As you can see, the 9/10 seeds are confirmed to play the number one seed should they win both games.
So the Suns would need to win two play-in games, with both of them coming on the road at this point. And the grand prize that awaits you if you survive is a series against the electric Oklahoma City Thunder.
Updated Standings
9. Sacramento Kings (36-37) —
10. Dallas Mavericks (36-38) — 0.5 GB
11. Phoenix Suns (35-39) — 1.5 GB (from SAC)
12. Portland Trailblazers (32-42) — 4.5 GB
13. San Antonio Spurs (31-41) — 4.5 GB
I’ll include the Blazers and Spurs to be nice, though they’re likely all but done, barring a miracle. They’ve each slid of late, and the math is against them as the season winds down.
Kings' next 5 games:
@ Magic
@ Pacers
@ Wizards
@ Hornets
vs. Cavs
Note: The Suns and Kings play each other on the final day of the season.
Suns' next 5 games:
Note: The Suns play both the Spurs and Kings for their final two games.
Mavs' next 5 games:
@ Bulls
vs. Nets
vs. Hawks
@ Clippers
@ Clippers
Note: Anthony Davis has returned to action for Dallas. PJ Washington and Dereck Lively are both nearing a potential return as well, making the Mavs a sneaky, dangerous team down the stretch once their guys return. Everyone wrote them off, but they just took down a solid Orlando team.
Final Stretch
Phoenix by far has the toughest schedule remaining of the teams listed. It will ultimately come down to their ability to beat good teams and hope that contenders rest key players against them or sleepwalk through late March/early-April games, as we see time and time again this time of year.
If I told you that Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined to play in 129 out of a possible 148 games (so far), and the Suns were fighting for their play-in lives at the beginning of the season, you'd have called me a madman.
How we got here is inexcusable.
— Zona (@AZSportsZone) March 29, 2025
In a year that Kevin Durant has played 61/74 games and Devin Booker 68/74, it’s been a relatively healthy year for the squad. Sure, Beal has done Beal things and missed significant time, but compared to the rest of the league, the Suns have gotten off easy on the injury bug this year.
It’s entirely inexcusable for a team with this much talent to be in this position, especially after Dallas has done everything in their power (unwillingly) to hand Phoenix a spot.
"Yeah. We're in the middle of trying to get into the play-in tournament. I don't think there is any answer for that question."
Mike Budenholzer when asked about his job security as Suns are 35-39 and 11th in the West after Friday's 124-109 loss to T-Wolves.
Team owner Mat… pic.twitter.com/TUL6p4QvQL
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 29, 2025
With 8 of these things left, how are we feeling? Will Phoenix sneak up into the 9-seed and host a game? Will they miss it altogether? Let us know your final play-in predictions below.