Warriors Lock in No. 10 Seed Ahead of NBA Playoffs

Steph Curry returns from injury but Golden State's playoff fate sealed after Clippers win

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:04am

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The Golden State Warriors have officially locked in the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference after the Los Angeles Clippers secured a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Despite a strong return to the court for veteran star Steph Curry, the Warriors' playoff positioning was already set in stone prior to their victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Why it matters

The Warriors' No. 10 seed means they will have to win two play-in tournament games on the road next week in order to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs. This represents a significant challenge for the team, which has struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout the regular season.

The details

Curry came off the bench and made an immediate impact in his second game back from a two-month injury absence, scoring 17 points with five rebounds, two assists, a steal and four three-pointers in 25 minutes of action. However, the Warriors' 110-105 win over the Kings had no bearing on their final standing, as the Clippers' victory earlier in the night had already locked Golden State into the No. 10 seed.

  • On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-105.
  • Earlier on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers secured a 116-103 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

The players

Steph Curry

A 38-year-old veteran and former back-to-back NBA MVP who is the star player for the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State Warriors

An NBA team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that has won multiple championships in recent years but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency this season.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA team based in Los Angeles that secured a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, officially locking the Warriors into the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.

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What’s next

The Warriors have three regular season games remaining before the play-in tournament begins next week. They will need to win two consecutive road games in the play-in tournament in order to clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

The takeaway

Despite Steph Curry's strong return from injury, the Warriors' playoff fate was already sealed prior to their win over the Kings. The team will now face a significant challenge in the play-in tournament, needing to win two straight road games to keep their season alive and earn a spot in the NBA playoffs.