Warriors Stage Thrilling Comeback to Defeat Clippers

The Golden State Warriors pulled off a stunning comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, winning 126-121 in the NBA play-in tournament. Led by Stephen Curry, who scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half, the Warriors erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to advance. Al Horford played a crucial role, hitting four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including one that put the Warriors up 117-115 with 2:12 left. The Clippers, despite Kawhi Leonard's 21 points, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The Warriors will now face Phoenix on Friday, with the winner moving on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Curry's performance was all the more impressive given his recent return from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury. The 38-year-old scored 16 points in a six-minute span of the third quarter to keep the Warriors in the game. The Clippers had led 98-85 with 9:53 to play, but the Warriors finished on a 16-6 run, holding Leonard scoreless in the fourth until the final 16 seconds. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers secured the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 109-97 win over the Orlando Magic, despite the absence of Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, and the 76ers will begin their first-round series against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.