As it happened: Top moments as Warriors and 76ers win play-in games

The NBA play-in tournament saw pivotal matchups as four teams vied for playoff positioning. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 109-97, securing a spot against the Boston Celtics in the upcoming first-round playoff series. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors rallied to overcome the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121, eliminating the Clippers and advancing to face the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed. The 76ers played without star center Joel Embiid, who underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. Tyrese Maxey stepped up with a team-high 31 points, including a crucial 11-point effort in the fourth quarter. Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly Oubre Jr. also scored 19 points. The Magic struggled offensively aside from Desmond Bane, who scored 34 points on efficient shooting but could not carry the team to victory. In the West, the Warriors overcame a deficit behind Stephen Curry’s 35 points, 27 of which came in the second half, showcasing his leadership and clutch scoring. Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingis each added 20 points for Golden State. The Clippers were led by Bennedict Mathurin’s 23 points, with Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland contributing 21 points apiece. Garland’s late foul-out with under a minute remaining proved costly as the Clippers’ season came to an end. These results set up critical playoff matchups: the 76ers will face the Celtics, and the Warriors will battle the Suns. The Magic and Hornets, who narrowly defeated the Miami Heat in overtime, will compete for the final playoff spot. The play-in tournament continues to add drama and intensity to the NBA postseason, with teams fighting to secure their place in the playoffs amid injuries and high stakes.