Devin Booker says Phoenix Suns feel urgency with playoffs at stake

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Mar 3, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images

PHOENIX — With the regular season entering its final stretch, the Phoenix Suns find themselves in a familiar place: in the thick of the NBA playoff race with little margin for error.

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Dec 27, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Micah Peavy (14) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Suns sit seventh in the Western Conference, a position that would place them in the NBA’s play-in tournament if the season were to end today — but the standings are tightly packed. The gap between the middle seeds is only a few games, leaving Phoenix within striking distance of a guaranteed playoff spot but also vulnerable to slipping further down.

With 18 games remaining, plus a grueling six-game road trip, the Suns now must decide whether to let the games flow and come to them or play with more urgency — which star Devin Booker says is the latter.

“No, there’s definitely a sense of urgency,” Booker said on Sunday, after the team’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. “I mean, if you ask anybody, you know, from three to seven, they’ll say the same thing. So we’re buttoned up, we’re ready to go.”


The Western Conference race has been one of the NBA’s most prominent storylines this season, particularly among the lower seeds, which have been occupied by different teams at various points throughout the year. The Suns are among the teams in that crowded tier of the standings, where even short losing streaks can cause significant movement.

Phoenix’s latest homestand ended with a 2-1 record — though the loss came to the Chicago Bulls stunningly after Chicago played without many of its star players.

“I mean, we’ve moved on, but, you know, that Chicago loss hurt us,” said Booker. “And, you know, I’m proud of the response that we’ve done these past two games.”

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Mar 6, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns bench player applaud during the second half of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Those last two games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Hornets served as a reminder that the team converts frustration into momentum rather than letting it spiral. Urgency and execution are now more important than ever, with a swing of two or three games potentially determining whether Phoenix secures a top-six seed.

Booker’s comments indicate that the Suns aren’t waiting for the season to unfold, but rather approaching every game from here on out as a must-win.

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Mar 3, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) high five during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images

Booker and the Suns start their roadtrip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, March 10, at 5 p.m.

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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde​

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