Play‑In set: Clippers vs Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, April 15, with the Western Conference’s final playoff path running through the play-in. (nba.com) The National Basketball Association’s 2026 play-in runs from April 14 through April 17 and fills the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each conference before the playoffs open April 18. (nba.com) In the West, the bracket is set with the Phoenix Suns at No. 7, the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 8, the Clippers at No. 9 and the Warriors at No. 10. The Clippers finished 42-40, while the Warriors finished 37-45. (nba.com) The format gives the No. 7 seed one game against the No. 8 seed for a playoff berth, while the No. 9 seed hosts the No. 10 seed in an elimination game. The winner of Clippers-Warriors advances to face the loser of Suns-Trail Blazers for the West’s No. 8 seed. (nba.com) That makes Wednesday a must-win night for Golden State and a one-loss-and-you’re-out test for Los Angeles. The survivor still would need a second win on Friday, April 17, to reach the first round. (nba.com) The Western Conference playoff field above the play-in is already locked: the Oklahoma City Thunder are No. 1, the San Antonio Spurs No. 2, the Denver Nuggets No. 3, the Los Angeles Lakers No. 4, the Houston Rockets No. 5 and the Minnesota Timberwolves No. 6. (nba.com) The Wednesday game is listed for 7 p.m. on the league schedule, with Prime Video carrying the play-in broadcasts. Friday’s West No. 8 seed game will also air on Prime Video. (espn.com) The play-in has been part of the league’s postseason structure since 2021, turning the bottom of the playoff race into a short knockout round after the 82-game regular season. By Wednesday night, either the Clippers or the Warriors will be one loss from summer. (nba.com)