Butler, Curry Lift Warriors 121-116 Past Grizzlies Into West Playoffs 7th/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry combined for 75 points to push the Golden State Warriors past the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in the Play-In Tournament. The win secured the Warriors the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Golden State will now face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round series.
Butler, Curry Power Warriors Into Playoffs: Quick Looks
- Jimmy Butler scores 38 points in breakout postseason performance
- Stephen Curry adds 37, sealing win with clutch threes and free throws
- Warriors secure No. 7 seed in Western Conference playoffs
- Golden State to face Houston Rockets in Round 1, Game 1 Sunday
- Desmond Bane scores 30, Ja Morant adds 22 for Memphis
- Grizzlies to play Friday for final playoff spot vs. Kings-Mavericks winner
- Butler and Curry combine for late-game heroics and momentum shifts
- Warriors avenge past Play-In losses with gritty home win
Butler, Curry Lift Warriors 121-116 Past Grizzlies Into West Playoffs 7th
Deep Look
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are headed back to the playoffs, and they did it behind the brilliance of their two biggest stars.
Jimmy Butler exploded for 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Stephen Curry added 37 points, including a series of clutch plays in the final minutes, to help the Warriors outlast the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in Tuesday night’s NBA Play-In Tournament showdown.
The win secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference, sending Golden State into a first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets, which begins Sunday in Houston.
“It took 83 games, but we’re right where we want to be,” said head coach Steve Kerr. “We’re back in the playoffs, and we’ve got a chance.”
Playoff Butler Steps Up
Since joining the Warriors at the trade deadline, Butler’s impact has grown steadily, but Tuesday marked his biggest moment yet in the blue and gold. The six-time All-Star made 12 of 20 shots from the field and 12 of 18 free throws, including a series of key plays in the first and third quarters that halted Grizzlies runs and energized the home crowd.
Butler now has back-to-back 30-point games and his highest scoring night since joining Golden State.
“I know I want to win a championship, so he needs… what, this would be No. 5?” Butler said of Curry, as the two embraced postgame.
Curry Delivers in the Clutch
While Butler carried the load early, Curry took over late. With the Warriors clinging to a slim lead, he nailed a baseline three-pointer with 1:50 left, then another from the wing a minute later. Curry also hit four free throws in the final five seconds to ice the game, finishing with eight rebounds and four assists while navigating intense defensive pressure from Scotty Pippen Jr., who fouled out late.
The performance followed his 52-point explosion against the Grizzlies on April 1 and helped avenge past play-in heartbreaks, including a loss to Memphis in 2021.
“He’s different,” said Draymond Green, speaking of Butler. “And tonight, they were both different.”
Grizzlies Keep It Close
Memphis battled hard behind Desmond Bane’s 30 points and Ja Morant’s 22, but ultimately came up short. Morant suffered a scare late in the third quarter, rolling his ankle after stepping on Buddy Hield’s foot, but managed to complete a three-point play that kept the Grizzlies close.
Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in with 18 points, while rookie big man Zach Edey made a strong impact with 14 points and 17 rebounds, including two free throws with 14.3 seconds remaining that made it a one-possession game.
A five-second violation on an inbound play with 5.4 seconds left sealed Memphis’ fate.
Warriors Start Fast, Finish Strong
The Warriors stormed out to an early 31-18 lead behind four straight scoring possessions initiated by Butler, who assisted on a Gary Payton II dunk, fed Quinten Post for a three-pointer, and then scored five straight points himself.
Golden State built momentum early and maintained it despite some late-game pressure and a Memphis surge in the third quarter. The Warriors avoided a second straight loss at home after falling in overtime to the Clippers on Sunday to close the regular season.
What’s Next
With the win, Golden State moves on to face the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in a full best-of-seven first-round playoff series starting Sunday. The Warriors, bolstered by Butler’s elite scoring and Curry’s steady leadership, will look to carry their play-in intensity into the postseason proper.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, still have a shot at the playoffs. They’ll host the winner of Wednesday’s Mavericks-Kings matchup on Friday for the West’s eighth and final playoff seed.
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