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 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 the Phoenix Suns in the NBA’s Western Conference play-in standings?
Play-in spots
| Place | Team | Record | Games Back | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 43-32 | 20 | 7-3 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Clippers | 43-32 | 20 | 8-2 |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | 37-39 | 26.5 | 4-6 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 36-39 | 27 | 3-7 |
Below play-in
| Place | Team | Record | Games Back | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Phoenix Suns | 35-40 | 28 | 5-5 |
| 12 | Portland Trail Blazers | 32-43 | 31 | 4-6 |
| 13 | San Antonio Spurs | 31-43 | 31.5 | 4-6 |
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