2024 Phoenix Suns playoff picture after win vs New Orleans Pelicans (April 1): Updated standings, schedule and more

The Phoenix Suns secured a crucial 124-111 victory on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, bringing them closer to their goal of avoiding the play-in tournament.

The Suns had a comfortable lead for most of the night, starting the game with a 24-point advantage in the first quarter. They continued to dominate and even increased their lead to 27 points in the middle of the third quarter.

Despite a brief late-game comeback from the Pelicans, where they managed to come within seven points in the final three minutes, Phoenix ultimately sealed their victory with a 9-3 run, ending the game with a 13-point lead.

Devin Booker, the Suns’ superstar shooting guard, delivered an outstanding performance with 52 points, nine assists, and eight 3-pointers on an impressive 67.9% shooting. Meanwhile, his teammate Kevin Durant contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and three 3-pointers on 36.8% shooting. Together, they led the Suns to victory.

While doing so, Phoenix managed to defeat New Orleans star forward Zion Williamson’s 30-point performance.

Despite their previous blowout road loss to the OKC Thunder, the Suns were able to redeem themselves with a victory. This win not only helped them gain ground on the Pelicans in their pursuit of a top-six seed in the competitive Western Conference, but their path to the playoffs still presents challenges.

In light of this, here is a quick overview of where Phoenix stands in the Western Conference playoff race with seven games left to play.

Current Standings: Phoenix Suns in the NBA Playoffs

After defeating New Orleans on Monday, the Suns (44-31) advanced to the seventh spot in the West. They are currently 1.0 and 1.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Pelicans (45-30) and fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks (45-29). However, they are 3.5 games behind the fourth-seeded LA Clippers (47-27), making it improbable for them to finish above fifth place.

Furthermore, Phoenix remains at risk of dropping a few positions in the rankings. Currently, they hold a slim lead over the Sacramento Kings (43-31), who are in eighth place by just 0.5 games. The Phoenix team also has a narrow 2.0-game margin over the Los Angeles Lakers (42-33), who are currently in ninth place.

Thankfully for the Suns, they are unlikely to drop below ninth place, as they currently hold a 3.5-game lead over the 10th-ranked Golden State Warriors (40-34).

Phoenix Suns Playoff Schedule and Potential Opponents

The Suns’ outlook for the rest of the season is challenging, as they face the toughest remaining strength of schedule in the NBA, with an average opponent winning percentage of. 633.

The remaining seven games in Phoenix’s schedule are all against teams with winning records, with six of those games being against the top eight seeds in the Western Conference.

To prevent slipping in the standings, the Suns will have to secure more signature victories.

Examining the X-factor for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Playoffs

Phoenix’s fifth win in its previous seven games, which occurred on Monday, was a significant triumph. However, the team’s heavy reliance on Booker and Durant persists despite their recent string of successes.

During this period, the superstars have collectively maintained an average of 52.8 points per game. In contrast, the remaining Suns players have not been able to exceed an average of 13.7 ppg, with only two managing to score in double digits.

Therefore, it is probable that the Suns will require their supporting players to contribute more offensively in order to alleviate pressure from their top two players.

Furthermore, they are likely to focus on their defensive strategy, as their defensive rating of 113.0 over their past seven games ranks only 16th in the league.

If Phoenix is unable to improve its all-around performance, its chances of having a successful playoff run may be limited.