Apr 5, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) and Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley (0) battle for a rebound in the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns lost 111-107 to the Golden State Warriors in a spectacular game with both teams going on runs and great play on both sides.

Following a 4-0 run by Golden State to start the game out, the Suns went on a run that brought the score to 37-23 in favor of Phoenix by the end of one. The Suns had a nine-point lead at the half, but got decimated in the third quarter. The Warriors outscored the Suns 32-14, with a run that gave Golden State a nine-point edge. The game came down to the final seconds as the Suns battled back, but ultimately the Warriors iced the game with some free throws to get that much closer to clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2007.

This game was pretty much about stars. For Golden State, Klay Thompson scored 25 points and had four steals, but the bigger impact was David Lee and Stephen Curry. Lee posted 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Curry had 18 points, 15 assists and four steals. The incredible part was that both Thompson and Curry were in foul trouble, finishing with five fouls apiece. It speaks to their finesse on offense and them being able to avoid contact on defense to stay in the game.

Jarrett Jack, who I said would be the X-factor in my preview, had 14 points and three steals off the bench. Meanwhile, Carl Landry had 13 points and three steals, and Harrison Barnes added 11 as a starter.

For the Suns, Goran Dragic and Michael Beasley came up with big performances, and had each other’s back reminiscent of Wednesday’s altercation between Beasley and Ryan Hollins, as Beasley was standing up for the Dragon.

Dragic had a career-high tying 32 points on 11-13 shooting, with at least one of the misses a desperation shot when the shot clock was about to expire. The Slovenian also got into foul trouble ending with five, including the foul with .2 seconds left on the game clock that gave Jack a couple extra free throws to really put the game on ice.

Beasley was dazzling in this game. He scored 25 points on 12-17 shooting and it looked even better than the stats would show. He had spin moves, making the opponents think they were inside the spin cycle of a washing machine, and despite the obvious LONG twos, Beasley seemed engaged and as efficient as can be expected.

“Michael Beasley has been off the charts the last two weeks and I’ve been riding him hard,” said Suns head coach Lindsey Hunter after the game, according to the Suns official Twitter feed.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 15 points off the bench, along with pulling down nine boards and blocking a couple shots. P.J. Tucker had a decent, well-rounded game with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and a couple blocks.

The reason the Suns lost despite making history with the 32^nd time ever that a team has shot 60 percent from the floor or better and lost, was because of turnovers and bad defense. Phoenix turned the ball over 22 times, resulting in 31 Warrior points in comparison to only 14 turnovers for Golden State that turned into only 11 points for the Suns. Phoenix gave up 51 percent from the floor, including 56 percent from behind the arc. You won’t win that way.

“To shoot 62% and lose is mind boggling,” said Hunter.

This was a pretty good night for the Suns’ draft chances as the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles all won, while the Phoenix Suns lost. The Lakers are currently a half a game ahead of the Jazz, and Phoenix is a half a game worse than the Cavaliers for the third-worst record in the league.

“I think the season has been frustrating. This just adding fuel to the fire,” said Beasley after the game, according to Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou.

The only thing better would have been L.A. losing, because that would put Utah in the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff race, which if it held through the end of the season would hand the Suns an extra draft pick in the middle of the first round.

Golden State has a day off before they travel back home to host the Utah Jazz Sunday, while the Suns also await Sunday as the host the New Orleans Hornets.

Oct. 31, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NBA official Bennie Adams (47) and Eddie F. Rush (32) separate Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) during the second half at US Airways Center. The Warriors defeated the Suns 87-87. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns and their opponents for Friday’s game are headed in different directions. The Suns have been decent to good for most of their history, while Golden State has pretty much been bad. However, now the Warriors are holding on to the sixth spot in the Western Conference playoffs and the Suns are the worst team in the conference.

The Warriors haven’t made the playoffs since 2007 when they knocked off the number one seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round as an eighth seed. Phoenix hasn’t made the postseason since they went to the Western Conference Finals in 2010, and don’t look like they are making a return anytime soon.

ESPN agrees, saying that Golden State is favored by eight points on the game’s betting line.

The Warriors have no significant injuries, which is good as the season comes to a close and they have to worry about their first round match-up in the playoffs.

The Suns’ injury report only has on it, Channing Frye with his enlarged heart, and Marcin Gortat, who is trying to come back for the last few games of the season after having a broken foot.

Keys to the game: Suns

• Rebounding is the key if Phoenix wants to even stand a chance in this game. David Lee, Andrew Bogut and most of the Warriors are really good at offensive rebounding. So, if the ball goes up, BOX OUT SOMEONE!

• The Suns need to run Golden State off the three-point line. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both have deadly accuracy from behind the arc and aren’t afraid to use it against their opponents.

Keys to the game: Warriors

• With Gortat out, the front court of the Warriors needs to take advantage of their size and pound the ball inside.

• Phoenix has problems on the defensive end more than the offensive end, so if the Warriors can disrupt the Suns offense enough to get some stops and steals, they will win the game.

X-factor!

Jarrett Jack is the secret weapon for the Warriors. He averages 13.2 points and 5.5 assists per game off the bench and if he gets going, it brings a special spark that is infectious and is usually the catalyst to a Golden State victory.

Match-up to watch:

David Lee versus Markieff Morris. Morris has been berated recently for not rebounding enough with the number of minutes he plays, how big he is and what position he plays. Friday, he is going up against one of the best in David Lee, who is averaging 11.2 boards per game this season. Morris will have his work cut out for him.