Stephen Curry and the Warriors dispatched the Clippers to advance in the SoFi Play-In Tournament.
What we know about Wednesday’s games:
The 76ers defeated the Magic 109-97 in the first half of our SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader behind Tyrese Maxey (31 pts).
The Warriors came back in the fourth quarter to defeat the Clippers 126-121, led by Stephen Curry (35 pts) and clutch defense from Draymond Green on Kawhi Leonard.
APRIL 16 / 1:37 ET
The Chef serves up a masterpiece
STEPH TAKES OVER TO KEEP WARRIORS ALIVE!
35 PTS
7 3PM
Golden State will face Phoenix on Friday for the West 8-seed 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UAFMOiaUAc
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 16 / 12:46 ET
‘This is amazing!’
Kevin Harlan intoned as the Warriors took control in the fourth quarter, defeating the Clippers 126-121.
Draymond Green (7 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) locked up Kawhi Leonard down the stretch, including two clutch steals.
DRAYMOND GREEN.
DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS. https://t.co/LFqgSBDgLY pic.twitter.com/poJRaILT7b
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
Stephen Curry (35 pts) delivered 27 points in the second half, while Kristaps Porziņģis (20 pts), Gui Santos (20 pts) and Al Horford (14 pts) delivered big moments in Golden State’s comeback.
“I’m thankful that we had an opportunity to come out and win one game,” said Curry. “Now, we have to win one more.”
APRIL 16 / 12:40 ET
The Warriors make a stand
120-117 Golden State with 50.4 seconds remaining, as Stephen Curry (34 pts) makes a 3-pointer falling into the front row.
STEPH CURRY GIVES THE WARRIORS THE LEAD!
GSW 120
LAC 117
50.4 TO PLAY IN A MUST-WIN GAME 🍿 pic.twitter.com/HgYTHtLlOp
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
“The Warriors have stuck with this game,” said Candace Parker. “Unbelievable.”
Golden State is 15-of-20 from the field in the fourth quarter so far.
APRIL 16 / 12:33 ET
Going down to the wire in LA
115-110 Clippers with 3:45 to go in the fourth quarter after back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers from Al Horford, then a response from beyond the arc by Brook Lopez.
Golden State was 8-33 when trailing after three quarters this season. Can they complete this comeback at the Intuit Dome?
APRIL 16 / 12:18 ET
Warriors on a run
100-97 Clippers with 8:16 to go in the fourth quarter, as Golden State mounts a 12-2 run to get back in it.
Kristaps Porziņģis (20 pts on 8-of-11 shooting) has come up big in his first postseason game for the Warriors, putting up their last six points.
KP’s 3 makes it a one-possession game 🔥
12-2 run for the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/ZKNexyMcFx
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 11:57 ET
A Curry flurry
Stephen Curry (24 pts) has 16 of the last 18 Warriors points, but the Clippers are still up 83-78 left with 3:02 in the third quarter.
THROUGH THE CONTACT 😤 https://t.co/0pM2dMa5wb pic.twitter.com/8HZJud6cL2
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 // 11:38 ET
One time for Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey starred in a @SoFi Play-In showdown!
31 PTS
6 AST
3 3PM
Sixers secure the East 7-seed and will face the Celtics in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs presented by @Google 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hnqufwT5ax
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 11:21 ET
LA up at the half
61-53 Clippers at the break.
Kawhi Leonard (14 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, +16) leads all scorers, while Stephen Curry (8 pts on 9 shots) looks to find his shot.
Kawhi fakes out multiple defenders and scores through contact 👏
Clippers lead in Q2… Winner plays PHX for the West 8-seed! pic.twitter.com/vzpr9PqYyb
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 10:49 ET
Clippers up early
31-22 LA with 11:13 to go in the second quarter, although Kristaps Porziņģis has the highlight of the game so far.
KP flies in for the emphatic tip slam 💥
It’s win or go home in the @SoFi Play-In showdown on Prime! pic.twitter.com/rmrJhS71Ur
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 10:40 ET
Tale of the tape: Warriors-Clippers
Stephen Curry returns tonight as the Clippers host the Warriors in the second half of our SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader.
Golden State Warriors: ORTG: 115.0 (18th) DRTG: 115.6 (17th) Net Rating: -0.6 (20th)
Stephen Curry is back tonight for Golden State. With the Chef, they were 24-19 this season — without him, they were 13-26. In his absence, though, Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton, among others, found their confidence in Steve Kerr’s whirring offensive system. Along with new addition Kristaps Porziņģis, the Warriors could make some noise if they can make it through the Play-In Tournament.
LA Clippers: ORTG 117.3 (11th) DRTG 116.1 (18th) Net Rating +1.2 (16th)
The Clippers completed the biggest in-season turnaround in NBA history, starting 6-21, then going 36-19 to finish 42-40. Kawhi Leonard (27.9 ppg) had the best individual scoring season of his career to lead LA.
In the process, they added Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, two young talents who have Playoff experience. Can they attack the returning Curry and give the Clippers an advantage?
APRIL 15 / 10:11 ET
Sixers win
109-97, as Tyrese Maxey (31 pts), VJ Edgecombe (19 pts, 11 reb) and Andre Drummond (14 pts, 10 reb) led the way in a tight affair.
ANDRE DRUMMOND SEALS IT FROM DEEP!
THE SIXERS HAVE CLINCHED THE EAST #7 SEED AND WILL FACE THE CELTICS IN ROUND 1! pic.twitter.com/4bxCNiE7IE
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
Desmond Bane (34 pts) went off for Orlando, but Philly outshot the Magic (44.7% to 40.7%) and turned the ball over less (14 to 10) in taking control.
Philadelphia is the seven seed, headed to Boston for the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
These two historic rivals have played 116 playoff games against one another, in the most common matchup in NBA Playoff history.
The Celtics have won 66 of them, while the Sixers have taken 50.
APRIL 15 / 9:51 ET
Going down to the wire in Philly
97-92 76ers with 4:44 remaining. Catch the finish on Prime!
APRIL 15 / 9:40 ET
Sixers up after three
79-74, as Desmond Bane (28 pts) duels a varied Sixers attack led by Tyrese Maxey (20 pts).
Andre Drummond (9 pts, 8 reb) has shown up tonight for Philly, as noted in our tale of the tape for this one. Can the Orlando bigs assert themselves?
APRIL 15 / 9:20 ET
Philadelphia on a run
73-62 Philadelphia, after two spectacular blocks from Adem Bona and a flurry from the Sixers’ stars left the crowd in Xfinity Mobile Arena roaring.
They’ve won the third quarter 14-7 so far.
Bona swats it at the rim 🚫
Sixers lead in Q3 with the East #7 seed on the line! pic.twitter.com/nqHUxGovwT
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 8:50 ET
Sixers leading at the half
59-55, led by Tyrese Maxey (16 pts, 5 ast), while Desmond Bane (19 pts, 3 ast) leads all scorers.
Orlando’s 3-of-11 from 3-point range so far (27.3%), while Philadelphia is 7-of-19 (36.8%).
We’ve seen eight lead changes and four ties so far — it’s been a battle.
APRIL 15 / 8:18 ET
PG at work
44-42 Sixers with four minutes to go in the second quarter.
Take a look at Paul George operate — few make these stepback jumpers look so clean and smooth. There’s a reason he’s Brandon Miller’s GOAT.
Creating separation in style 👏 https://t.co/GbieFY3cYo pic.twitter.com/fhO7RjDsJV
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 8:10 ET
Sixers up after one
28-24. Paolo Banchero (8 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast) leads all scorers, but the Sixers knocked down four 3-pointers to two for Orlando to earn a slim lead.
Kelly Oubre Jr. sinks his 3rd three 🔥
Sixers lead by 4 after 1Q in the @SoFi Play-In! pic.twitter.com/VJiYATWFAy
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
APRIL 15 / 7:45 ET
Orlando and Philly scrapping early
The Magic are hot early, knocking down five of their first eight shots (62.5%), but Philly’s battled.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paolo Banchero drew offsetting technicals after Oubre Jr. knocked down Franz Wagner on a screen — a little classic Eastern Conference physicality to start off the night.
14-12 Orlando with 6:40 to go in the first quarter.
APRIL 15 / 6:45 ET
Pick’Em Bracket Challenge is live
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Check it out — if you pick a perfect bracket, you can win $1,000,000. The best non-perfect bracket wins tickets to a 2026-27 NBA game.
APRIL 15 / 6:30 ET
Tale of the tape: Magic-76ers
Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers take on Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic in the opening half of tonight’s SoFi Play-In Doubleheader on Prime.
Orlando Magic: ORTG: 114.9 (19th) DRTG: 114.3 (11th) Net Rating: +0.6 (17th)
The Magic need Jalen Suggs. With him in the lineup, they’re 34-23 this season — without him, they’re 11-14. Suggs provides playmaking, toughness, athleticism, quick perimeter defense, hustle and timely 3-point shooting, all of which can be in short supply in Orlando. He’s in the lineup tonight.
Beyond Suggs, the Magic need the duo of Paolo Banchero (22.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Franz Wagner (20.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg) to give the Sixers’ wings problems. Can Paul George stay in front of one of them? Will Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes be able to handle the other? Does Justin Edwards or Dominic Barlow end up with the assignment? The Magic’s stars have overlapping skills, but they’re both adept at putting pressure on the rim. It’ll be huge if they can get in the lane.
Orlando’s made the Playoffs in each of the last two seasons, falling to the Cavaliers in seven games in 2024 and the Celtics in five in 2025. This squad is still young, but they have experience. Will they have hunger tonight?
Philadelphia 76ers: ORTG: 115.4 (17th) DRTG: 115.5 (16th) Net Rating: -0.2 (18th)
The 76ers still don’t have their best lineup, with Joel Embiid (emergency appendectomy) missing tonight’s game. But they have a deep, talented squad. Tyrese Maxey (28.3 ppg, 6.6 apg) has grown into a top-notch scorer this season — he’ll need to be able to force the Magic’s stalwart defense into rotation tonight, along with VJ Edgecombe (16.0 ppg, 5.6 reb).
This is a game for Paul George (21.3 ppg since returning from suspension March 25). Can the nine-time NBA All-Star find his best game tonight and outplay Banchero or Wagner? He has the size and skill to go toe-to-toe, world-class experience and the opportunity to create a lasting memory for Philly fans.
The Sixers will also need Andre Drummond and Adem Bona to step up in Embiid’s absence. Drummond’s had a varied, interesting career, ending the regular season at 28th on the all-time rebounding list with 11,513 boards. Will Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze out-battle him?
APRIL 15 / 6:00 ET
Welcome to night two of the SoFi Play-In Tournament!
Stephen Curry and the Warriors face Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers in the nightcap of tonight’s SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader.
It’s the second night of the SoFi Play-In Tournament! After the Hornets advanced and the Trail Blazers earned the seven seed in the Western Conference, we’ve got two more games for you tonight on Prime.
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has more for you about tonight’s contests.