TST Best Bets: April 15, 2026

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots a three pointer during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday February 2nd, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The NBA Play-In Tournament got off to an electric start on Tuesday night, with the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat kicking it off with an overtime thriller and Deni Avdija putting up a superstar performance to lift the Portland Trail Blazers over the Phoenix Suns.

Wednesday’s slate looks to continue the must-see action of the tournament with the No. 9 vs. No. 10 seed matchup in the Western Conference, featuring the Los Angeles Clippers hosting the Golden State Warriors.

In the East, the seventh seed Philadelphia 76ers host the eighth seed Orlando Magic.

The winner clinches their spot against the Boston Celtics in the first round, while the loser has a date with the Hornets on Friday night with the final spot in the playoff bracket on the line.

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First Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 over Golden State Warriors

Rundown: It demonstrates the depth of the West that the Clippers have the seventh best record in the NBA over the last 55 games, and yet will still need to win two single-elimination play-in games just to sneak into the postseason.

It also is illustrative of just how bad LA began their season, as the Clippers started out an abysmal 6-21 before going on a 36-19 stretch to end the year.

Led by Kawhi Leonard, who is easily having his best and healthiest season as a Clipper this year, and the recently traded for Darius Garland, LA has a very solid chance to be the fifth ninth or 10th seed to make it out of the tournament since its inception.

On the other end, the Warriors are limping into this last-chance contest on Wednesday, with head coach Steve Kerr announcing that Steph Curry will still be on a minutes-restriction against the Clippers.

The Warriors, who have been without Curry for a large portion of the season, have been unable to generate offense without their two-time MVP point guard.

Their offensive rating of 111.0 with Curry off the floor this season would rank 27th in the NBA over the course of the entire season.

Already the underdog to a Clippers team that has been far more impressive this season, the Warriors not operating at full strength should be a death sentence in the play-in.

A dominant Clipper victory is a likely outcome considering the state both teams are in heading into the postseason, as the Warriors, who are 1-3 in the play-in tournament historically, fall to 1-4.

Second Pick: Orlando Magic +1.5 over Philadelphia 76ers

Los Angeles Clippers Guard Kawhii Leonard (2) attacks the rim and dunks during a NBA game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood Calif

Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers Guard Kawhi Leonard (2) attacks the rim and dunks during a NBA game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood Calif

**Rundown:**The Eastern Conference matchup of today’s play-in slate is unfortunately an anti-climatic matchup, as the 76ers’ MVP center Joel Embiid is out with an appendectomy.

Of the Eastern Conference play-in teams, the 76ers had the strongest dark horse potential to go on an unexpected run in the playoffs, as Paul George’s recent return to shape along with Tyrese Maxey’s breakout season this year helped form a very formidable star trio for Philadelphia.

However, despite being at home, overcoming the Magic without Embiid is just too tall of a task to back the 76ers here.

The Magic, despite an embarrassingly disappointing loss to the Celtics’ backups in the last game of the season, won five of their last six to end the year.

Orlando may also be seeing the return of rim protector Jonathan Isaac, who is listed as questionable.

Isaac’s boost to the Magic defense would make a major difference against a 76ers team that is not only missing their best player, but was also held to 105 points or less in four of their last five outings to close the regular season.

With a bigger burden on Maxey and George in a must-win game, expect the Orlando defense to step up and lead the Magic into the playoffs with a win on Wednesday.