The Golden State Warriors eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in a play-in game in Inglewood on Wednesday, keeping their playoff hopes alive, while the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 at home to secure a playoff spot against the Boston Celtics.
After a regular season marred by injuries, most notably his right knee that sidelined him for two months between early February and early April, the 38-year-old Stephen Curry he led the Warriors with 35 points, seven of which were 3-pointers.
An important role was also played by Al Horford who scored four three-pointers in the last five and a half minutes of the game. Gui Santos added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points.
The Warriors will face Arizona on Friday Phoenix Sunsand if they win, they will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Horford’s 3-pointer late in the game was part of Golden State’s 27-13 run that ended the game. Stephen Curry hit a 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left to give the Warriors a 120-117 lead.
Bennedict Mathurin was the best scorer of Los Angeles with 23 points, who at one point in the game had an advantage of 13 points. Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard both finished with 21 points.
Sixers and Celtics they meet for the first time since the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals, when Boston won 4-3. Orlando will have its last chance at the playoffs on Friday when it hosts the Charlotte Hornets, who beat the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
Despite not having their own All-Star center Joel Embiidwho was operated on last week for appendicitis, The Sixers broke away in the third quarter, led by Tyrese Maxey, who finished the game with 31 points and six assists. Starter VJ Edgecombe and Andre Drummond had double-doubles for Philadelphia, which missed the playoffs last year after qualifying for seven straight seasons. VJ Edgecombe scored 19 points with 11 rebounds and Drummond added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. from Philadelphia scored 19 points, while Paul George added 16 points.
Code Orlando the best was Desmond Bane with 34 interceptions.
The Sixers, who finished seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 45-37 record, will be the seventh seed and face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in a seven-game series that begins Sunday.
The result of the play-in games played on Wednesday:
Philadelphia 76ers – Orlando Magic 109-97
LA Clippers – Golden State Warriors 121-126
(China | Photo: GSW)
