Stephen Curry was at his magnificent best as the Warriors kept their play-off hopes alive in the NBA
Two dramatic NBA play-in games on Wednesday night set up some mouthwatering clashes ahead of the first round of the play-offs, as Stephen Curry put on yet another age-defying display and the Philadelphia 76ers edged past the Orlando Magic to book their first-round place.
Warriors Stage Stunning Comeback to Sink Clippers
Curry scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half as the Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121, keeping their post-season hopes alive in the process.
The 38-year-old, back only five games after a 27-game absence with a knee injury, produced a vintage performance that will be talked about long after this play-in window closes.
He scored 16 points in a blistering six-minute stretch of the third quarter, then, after the Clippers led 98-85 with under ten minutes to play, he detonated again when it mattered most.
A seventh 3-pointer from Curry broke the tie with 50.4 seconds remaining and put the Warriors ahead for good.
Al Horford was the unlikely hero alongside him. The 39-year-old hit four 3-pointers down the stretch in the fourth quarter, the last of which put Golden State up 117-115 with just over two minutes left.
Gui Santos’ layup had brought it to 115-114 moments earlier, and from there the Warriors’ 16-6 closing run sealed the Clippers’ fate.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points for Golden State, who finished 37-45 in the regular season but have now beaten a side who won 42 games this year.
The Warriors will travel to face the Phoenix Suns on Friday, with the winner earning the right to face defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
For the Clippers, it is a painful end. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final 16 seconds.
Bennedict Mathurin led Los Angeles with 23 points while Darius Garland contributed 21 points and eight assists despite battling foul trouble.
The Clippers’ remarkable run of 15 consecutive winning seasons has come to an end, their late-season stumble dropping them from the seventh seed to ninth and requiring two play-in wins they ultimately could not deliver.
Sixers see off Magic to Set Up Celtics Showdown
Earlier in the evening in Philadelphia, the 76ers did what they needed to do to beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 and claim the No.7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
They will now face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round, with Game 1 at TD Garden on Sunday.
Tyrese Maxey shouldered the load with 31 points and six assists across 42 minutes, while rookie VJ Edgecombe delivered a remarkable 19 points and 11 rebounds in 41 minutes.
“I guess that happens when you let a kid play in such a high-intensity game,” Edgecombe said with a smile. “But I was out there having fun. So if I got to play wild for us to win, I’ll play wild.”
Coach Nick Nurse acknowledged it was far from a polished performance. “It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy and wasn’t pretty, but we’re here now. And now, we got to see what we can do with it.”
The biggest storyline in Philadelphia heading into the first round is the fitness of Joel Embiid, who has been out indefinitely following an emergency appendectomy.
The centre was on the bench for the first time since surgery on Wednesday, an encouraging sign for a fan base acutely aware of how different the Sixers look without him.
Paul George was very plain about the size of the challenge ahead: “We’re playing against winners. We’re playing against champions,” George said.
“They’ve been great for a couple years now. They’re a well-oiled machine over there. Great coach, great roster, two studs, superstars over there. And just a ton of guys that just know how to play the right way. So it’s going to be a challenge. We just got to be ready for it.”
For Orlando, the night ended in frustration. Paolo Banchero shot 7-for-22 from the field, missing all five of his 3-point attempts and committing six turnovers.
The Magic, who had been expected to push deep into the play-offs following their summer acquisition of Desmond Bane, must now beat the Charlotte Hornets on Friday at home to keep their season alive, with a first-round date against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons on the line.
