Sports / Golden State Warriors Warriors Playoff Hopes Ended by Amare, Suns Denver clinches eighth seed in the Western Conference By Mike Buss, Newser Staff Posted Apr 15, 2008 12:40 AM CDT Copied Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal (32) gets a rebound after a missed shot by Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis in the first quarter of an NBA game Monday, April 14, 2008, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Amare Stoudemire scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Phoenix recovered after blowing a 17-point lead to beat Golden State 122-116 Monday, eliminating the Warriors from playoff contention and securing the final playoff spot in the West for Denver. Steve Nash nearly had a triple-double with 13 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. The Suns remained in the midst of a scramble for playoff positioning and a possible home-court advantage in the first round. Stephen Jackson scored 16 of his 23 points in the Warriors' third-quarter comeback though Golden State played nearly the entire second half without Baron Davis, who was benched by coach Don Nelson after going 2-for-13 in just under 17 minutes. (More Golden State Warriors stories.) Report an error