Warriors Stun Clippers with Thrilling Comeback Victory

Stephen Curry's explosive second-half performance, which included 27 points, propelled the Golden State Warriors to a stunning 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, securing their spot in the NBA play-in tournament. Al Horford's clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter also played a pivotal role in the Warriors' comeback, as they erased a 13-point deficit to advance. The Warriors will now face the Phoenix Suns, with the winner moving on to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points for the Clippers, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The Clippers were led by Bennedict Mathurin with 23 points and Darius Garland, who added 21 points and eight assists despite struggling with foul trouble. Curry's seventh three-pointer broke a tie with 50.4 seconds remaining, sealing the victory for the Warriors. The 38-year-old Curry, who recently returned from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, led the charge alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who scored 20 points, and the 39-year-old Horford. The Warriors finished the game on a 16-6 run, holding Leonard scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final 16 seconds. In another game, the Philadelphia 76ers secured the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, defeating the Orlando Magic 109-97 without Joel Embiid, who is recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, and V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds, as the 76ers prepare to face the Boston Celtics in the first round. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 34 points, but it was not enough to overcome the 76ers. The 2026 NBA playoffs will begin on Sky Sports this Sunday, with four live games, including the East No. 7 seed at Boston Celtics and the West No. 8 seed at Oklahoma City Thunder.