Warriors end Clippers

Golden State beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday night, sending the Warriors on in the Western Conference play-in and ending the Clippers’ season. (nba.com) Stephen Curry scored 35 points, including 27 in the second half, as Golden State closed on a 16-6 run at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Al Horford added four three-pointers in the win, according to the National Basketball Association’s game recap. (nba.com) The Clippers led 89-83 entering the fourth quarter, but Golden State won the final period 43-32. ESPN’s box score shows the Warriors erased a nine-point first-quarter deficit and finished with their highest-scoring quarter in the fourth. (espn.com) The result finalized more of the 2026 playoff picture after the regular season ended on April 12 and the play-in tournament began on April 14. The National Basketball Association’s bracket lists first-round pairings that already include New York Knicks against Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers against Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets against Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers against Houston Rockets. (nba.com) Golden State entered the night as the No. 10 seed in the West at 37-45, while Los Angeles was No. 9 at 42-40. Under the play-in format, the No. 9 and No. 10 teams meet in a single elimination game, with the loser eliminated immediately. (nba.com) The matchup came three days after the Clippers beat the Warriors 115-110 in the regular-season finale on April 12. That loss left Golden State in the play-in instead of the top six, and Wednesday gave the Warriors a second game in Inglewood with their season at stake. (espn.com) The Warriors now move on in the West play-in, while the Clippers go into the offseason after a 42-40 finish. Curry was still the central problem for Los Angeles on April 15, the same way he has been for playoff opponents for much of Golden State’s postseason run over the last decade. (sports.yahoo.com)