Phoenix missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 after a 125-112 home defeat by Oklahoma City.
The loss was the Suns’ eighth in a row, all by double figures, and eliminated the NBA’s highest-paid roster from postseason contention.
Thunder take over after half-time
Phoenix led 67-62 at the break against an Oklahoma City team missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Thunder scored 43 points in the third quarter to seize control. Jalen Williams finished with 33 and Chet Holmgren added 22.
Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 25 points, while Devin Booker recorded 20 points and 14 assists. Kevin Durant missed his fifth game with an ankle injury.
Booker describes a season-long decline
Booker said the failure felt like a slow bleed rather than a sudden collapse.
The Suns began 8-1 before Durant suffered a calf injury, then never recovered their early rhythm. Beal also missed long stretches and the stars rarely built continuity.
Booker said Phoenix had skipped steps while trying to create a winning culture around a talented roster.
Expensive gamble ends outside playoffs
The Suns reached the 2021 Finals and won 49 games the previous season, but Minnesota swept them in the first round.
They fell to 35-45 with two games remaining, leaving Dallas to claim the final Western play-in place.
Coach Mike Budenholzer refused to discuss his future immediately after the loss. Whatever followed, Phoenix’s collection of stars had delivered far less than its cost and expectations demanded.
