Stephen Curry ignited a dramatic comeback for the Golden State Warriors, delivering 35 points overall, with an impressive 27 coming after halftime, as the team rallied to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in a pivotal play‑in contest. The veteran sharpshooter’s seventh three‑pointer, a clutch shot that fell with just 50.4 seconds remaining, gave the 10th‑seeded Warriors the lead and ultimately the win, erasing a 13‑point deficit that had seemed insurmountable just minutes earlier.
The fourth quarter turned into a showcase of Golden State’s resilience. After trailing 98-85 with under ten minutes left, Curry, flanked by Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, spearheaded a 16‑6 run that flipped the momentum.
Horford, the 39‑year‑old veteran, contributed four treys in the decisive stretch, including a go‑ahead bucket that put the Warriors up 117-115 with just over two minutes to play. Porzingis added 20 points of his own, while the rest of the squad tightened up defensively, holding Clippers star Kawhi Leonard scoreless in the final 16 seconds. The comeback was not merely a flash of individual brilliance; it reflected a collective determination forged through a grueling regular season that saw the Warriors finish 37-45 and lose All‑Star forward Jimmy Butler to a season‑ending injury in January. Despite those setbacks, the team’s veteran core—Curry, Draymond Green, and the newly acquired Horford—demonstrated why they remain a postseason threat.
Their performance propelled Golden State one step closer to the main playoff bracket, with a road game against the Phoenix Suns scheduled for Friday. The winner of that matchup will earn the right to challenge defending champion Oklahoma City in the first round.
For the Clippers, the loss marked a disappointing end to a campaign that had otherwise been marked by consistency. Los Angeles, which had not missed the playoffs since 2022, fell to a third‑place finish in their 15‑year streak of winning seasons. Kawhi Leonard managed 21 points, but the supporting cast could not sustain the early lead.
Bennedict Mathurin was the top scorer for the Clippers with 23 points, while Darius Garland contributed 21 points and eight assists despite battling foul trouble. The Clippers’ inability to stop Curry’s late surge and Horford’s three‑point barrage ultimately cost them a spot in the next round. Beyond the immediate drama, the game highlighted several broader storylines in the NBA’s 2026 postseason landscape.
The Warriors’ resurgence underscores the value of experience and strategic adjustments in high‑pressure environments. Curry, returning from a 27‑game knee injury layoff just five games earlier, proved that his scoring touch remains lethal; he dropped 16 points in a six‑minute span during the third quarter, keeping Golden State within striking distance when the Clippers appeared to be pulling away.
The play‑in tournament also set the stage for other key matchups. In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers, led by All‑Star starter Tyrese Maxey’s 31‑point effort, secured the No.
7 seed by beating the Orlando Magic 109-97. Maxey’s late surge of seven straight points in the fourth quarter gave the Sixers breathing room, while Joel Embiid, who recently underwent an emergency appendectomy, watched from the bench, his return timeline still uncertain.
Meanwhile, Orlando’s Desmond Bane delivered a standout 34‑point performance, keeping the Magic alive in the race for the No. 8 seed as they prepare to host Charlotte later in the week. The NBA playoffs are set to kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with a slate of four live games beginning at 6 p.m.
BST. The broadcast schedule includes: East No. 7 seed versus Boston Celtics at 6 p.m., West No. 8 seed versus Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m., East No.
8 seed versus Detroit Pistons at 11 p.m., and a West matchup between Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs at 2 a.m. Sky Sports will continue to carry all Western Conference Finals from May 20 onward. Looking ahead, the Warriors must prepare for a daunting test against Phoenix, a team that has already proven its mettle by advancing through the play‑in bracket.
The Suns, seeded seventh, will be eager to capitalize on home‑court advantage and secure a spot in the first round, where they could meet the defending champions from Oklahoma City. For Golden State, the lesson from the Clippers game is clear: never underestimate the power of a veteran‑led comeback, especially when a player of Curry’s caliber can ignite a rally with a single shot. In summary, the Warriors’ 126-121 victory over the Clippers was a masterclass in perseverance, strategic execution, and the enduring impact of seasoned talent. Curry’s late‑game heroics, Horford’s timely three‑point shooting, and the collective grit of the roster turned a seemingly lost cause into a pivotal win that keeps Golden State’s playoff hopes alive.
The upcoming contests will determine whether this momentum can carry the Warriors deep into the postseason or if their journey will end in the play‑in round, but one thing is certain: the NBA’s 2026 playoffs promise excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.