The Phoenix Suns have ousted Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors in their NBA play-in tournament clash, earning an opening playoffs match up against mighty defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jalen Green scored 36 points and Devin Booker added 20 as the Suns triumphed 111-96 over the Warriors in Phoenix on Friday night, securing eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Awaiting them are reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his top-seeded Thunder, who swept through the regular season with a 64-18 record.

Booker and Golden State's Draymond Green were both assessed two technical fouls late in the fourth quarter after exchanging words multiple times and were ejected.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared a moment with star veterans Green and Curry, embracing both. The three were part of four NBA championship runs.

Green shot 14 of 20 from the field for the Suns, including 8 of 14 on 3-pointers while Jordan Goodwin scored 19 points, had nine rebounds and was a menace on defence with six steals.

The 38-year-old Curry couldn't get many clean looks and finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points.

The Suns avoided becoming the first team to lose both play-in tournament games on their home floor. The current format was established in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic routed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in their home play-in clash, earning eighth seeding in the Eastern Conference and a similarly daunting playoffs assignment against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (60-22).

Paolo Banchero scored 25 points for the hosts who had five players in double figures.

Star point guard LaMelo Ball scored 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter for Charlotte.

Ball had been scoreless with two turnovers when he went to the bench with three fouls with 7:10 left in the first half. He did not score until Orlando's lead had reached 35 points in the final seconds of the half.

Franz Wagner had 18 points while Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 for the Magic, who also received 13 from Desmond Bane and 12 from Jalen Suggs.

The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010.

The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in rhe playoffs since 2016.