Updated NBA Playoff Picture 2026 Play-In Brackets After Warriors, 76ers Advance
The Philadelphia 76ers have qualified for the postseason after defeating the Orlando Magic 109-97 on Wednesday at home. They will now take the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed and play the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the first round.
The Magic will host the Charlotte Hornets, with the winner taking the No. 8 seed and earning a first round matchup with the Detroit Pistons.
Later in the evening, the Golden State Warriors engineered a tremendous comeback on the road, overcoming a 13-point deficit with just under 10 minutes left to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121.
They will now face the Phoenix Suns in a play-in game on Friday for the right to be the No. 8 seed and play the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Here's a look at the remaining play-in schedule as well as the updated first round playoff matchups and postseason bracket.
Remaining Play-in Schedule
Friday, April 17 (7:30 p.m. ET): Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic
Friday, April 17 (10 p.m. ET): Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference First-Round Matchups
- No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Seed (Orlando Magic or Charlotte Hornets)
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
- No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
- Semifinals: 1/8 winner vs 4/5 winner; 2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner
Western Conference First-Round Matchups
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Seed (Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors)
- No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
- No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Philadelphia 76ers 109, Orlando Magic 97
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points to lead the 76ers to a 109-97 home victory. Kelly Oubre Jr. and rookie VJ Edgecombe added 19 points apiece, while Paul George had a 16-point, five-rebound, five-assist outing.
Big man Andre Drummond posted a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double and delivered the game's final blow with a corner three-pointer.
Magic guard Desmond Bane led all scorers with 34 points. However, Orlando's struggles from three-point range doomed the team. Bane made 4-of-6 threes, but the rest of the team made only 3-of-21.
Philadelphia also had eight steals and nine blocks, while Orlando had four steals and four blocks.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero added 18 points but made just 7-of-22 shots and missed all five of his threes. Anthony Black added 13 points off the bench.
Golden State Warriors 126, Los Angeles Clippers 121
Stephen Curry scored 35 points and made 7-of-12 three-pointers to lead the Warriors to an incredible comeback against the Clippers.
Gui Santos and Kristaps Porziņģis added 20 apiece for the Warriors, who scored 43 fourth quarter points in an explosive final frame.
Warriors forward Draymond Green played amazing defense, particularly down the stretch, when he had two of his four steals. He also helped lock down seven-time All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who only scored two points in the fourth quarter.
Curry's three with 50 seconds left put Golden State up 120-117. Green then stole a Bennedict Mathurin pass and the found Brandin Podziemski, who converted a three-point play for a six-point lead.
Green then stole the ball again, leading to a Warrior possession that ended with Curry making one-of-two free throws to put Golden State up seven with 32.5 seconds left. L.A. cut it to five twice from there but couldn't get closer.
Mathurin's 23 points led the Clippers, and Leonard and Darius Garland scored 21 apiece.
