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The Golden State Warriors leaned on their championship DNA and a timely dose of “Playoff Jimmy” to punch their ticket back to the NBA playoffs.
Jimmy Butler scored 38 points and Stephen Curry added 37 as the Warriors outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies, 121-116, on Tuesday night at Chase Center in the Western Conference’s 7–8 Play-In Tournament matchup. Golden State clinched the No. 7 seed and will face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs beginning Sunday.
“It took 83 games, but we are right where we want to be,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We’ve got a chance.”
Curry closes, Butler shines
Golden State built a 20-point first-half lead but needed Curry’s late-game brilliance to avoid a collapse. He scored the Warriors’ final 10 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 5.4 seconds, to help seal the win.
“Just a sense of relief that we have something to look forward to now,” Curry said.
He shot 9-of-22 from the field and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc while adding eight rebounds and four assists. Butler picked up the scoring load early with 21 first-half points, offering the fearless aggression he’s become known for in big moments.
“I know I want to win a championship, so he needs — what, this would be No. 5?” Butler said postgame, nodding toward Curry.
Gary Payton II added 12 points off the bench and Quinten Post contributed 11. Draymond Green dished out 10 assists and played pivotal defense before fouling out in the final minute.
Grizzlies Rally, but Morant’s Return Not Enough
Memphis refused to go quietly. Desmond Bane scored 30 points and hit two key 3-pointers in the final frame to keep the Grizzlies within striking distance. Ja Morant added 22 points, returning to the game early in the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle late in the third.
Morant was injured after landing on Buddy Hield’s foot following a floater. He exited briefly but checked back in and made an immediate impact with a jumper on his first possession.
“I’m playing,” Morant said after the game. “That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.”
Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo praised Morant’s toughness and the energy it gave the team.
“Seeing him in that situation, to me, that generation that still remembers Isiah Thomas hopping around on one ankle — it wasn’t quite that,” Iisalo said. “Hopefully it’s not as severe. I have no information on that. It was inspiring, and I think it also lifted the guys up to see that your leader is putting it all on the line.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points, while rookie Zach Edey tallied 14 points and 17 rebounds. Santi Aldama added 14 points and eight boards off the bench.
Memphis trailed 94-91 entering the fourth quarter after a 19-8 run to close the third. It briefly took the lead on a Bane triple before the game devolved into a tense back-and-forth. Curry’s step-back 3-pointer with 51 seconds left extended the Warriors’ lead to six, and Memphis could never fully recover.
The Grizzlies were plagued by 20 turnovers, which Golden State converted into 27 points.
What’s Next
Golden State will face the second-seeded Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven series starting Sunday in Houston. The matchup pits two teams with vastly different timelines: one built on championship pedigree and another led by a young core looking to reach the next level.
“We know what it takes to win at a high level,” Green said. “That’s the focus. The goal is to get to the playoffs and win. So it’s good to be here.”
The Grizzlies return home to host the winner of Wednesday’s 9–10 matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks. That win-or-go-home game will take place Friday night at FedExForum. The winner will earn the West’s final playoff spot to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
