Warriors Rally Past Clippers In Play-In Thriller As 76ers Clinch No. 7 Seed

Stephen Curry and Tyrese Maxey delivered major performances as Golden State and Philadelphia moved through the NBA play-in round. The Warriors fought back to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121, while the 76ers handled the Orlando Magic 109-97 to secure the Eastern Conference No. 7 seed.

Golden State’s win kept the 10th-seeded Warriors alive for another playoff push, and Philadelphia advanced despite missing Joel Embiid. Both results reshaped the Western and Eastern brackets, with Phoenix, Charlotte, Boston and Detroit now locked into crucial upcoming games.

Curry finished with 35 points and scored 27 after half-time, driving a comeback that overturned a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit. Curry made seven 3-pointers in total, and the last one, with 50.4 seconds left, broke a tie and pushed the Warriors ahead for good.

Golden State closed the contest on a 16-6 surge and restricted Kawhi Leonard to just one late basket in the final 16 seconds. Before that, Leonard had been shut out in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers’ offence stalled under pressure from the Warriors’ small lineup.

Al Horford, aged 39, was key in the late charge, hitting four 3-pointers during the fourth-quarter rally. Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points as Golden State leaned on experienced players. The Warriors now travel to face Phoenix on Friday, with the winner earning a series against defending champion Oklahoma City.

The Clippers’ season ended after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and only the third time across 15 straight winning seasons. Leonard scored 21 points, but Bennedict Mathurin led Los Angeles with 23 points, while Darius Garland posted 21 points and eight assists despite foul problems.

Golden State’s turnaround followed a difficult 37-45 regular season and the loss of Jimmy Butler in January. Yet Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the playoff-tested core remain within one victory of another post-season berth after producing a fourth quarter that shifted the contest completely.

In the Eastern Conference, Maxey powered Philadelphia with 31 points as the 76ers secured a 109-97 win over Orlando. V.J. Edgecombe contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Philadelphia claimed the No. 7 seed, setting up a first-round series against Boston starting Sunday.

The Magic still have a route into the playoffs and will host Charlotte on Friday, with the winner claiming the No. 8 seed and a meeting with Detroit. Desmond Bane, who averaged 20.1 points across all 82 regular-season games, kept Orlando competitive with 34 points.

Bane hit a 3-pointer to cut the gap to two points, and Anthony Black followed with a triple that pulled Orlando to 87-86. Maxey then responded late in the fourth quarter, scoring seven straight points to give Philadelphia a cushion after Orlando had blown home-court advantage with a final-day defeat to Boston.

Embiid recently underwent an emergency appendectomy in Houston, and the 76ers have not set a return date. The two-time scoring leader rejoined the team on Wednesday, surprising the locker room before watching from the bench. Andre Drummond stepped up inside with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and Paul George scored 16.

Both play-in games underlined the influence of experienced stars and high-usage guards during tight finishes. Golden State and Philadelphia now prepare for demanding series against Phoenix or Oklahoma City, and Boston, while the Clippers, Magic and Charlotte confront decisive fixtures or early off-seasons after contrasting performances.