SAN FRANCISCO — Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry threw their arms round one another and embraced.
Playoff Jimmy in all his brilliance on the large stage took all of the stress off Curry, and now they’re taking the Golden State Warriors to the playoffs.
“I know I want to win a championship so he needs, his what, this would be No. 5?” Butler stated.
Butler had 38 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists creating alternatives on each ends at each probability, Curry scored 37, and the Warriors earned the seventh seed within the Western Convention by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night time within the Play-In Match.
Curry knocked down a baseline 3-pointer with 1:50 to go and one from the left wing with a minute on the clock then transformed 4 free throws within the closing 5 seconds.
Golden State is now headed for a best-of-seven first-round sequence with the Rockets starting with Recreation 1 on Sunday at Houston.
“It took 83 games but we’re right where we want to be, which is back in the playoffs and we’ve got a chance,” coach Steve Kerr stated.
After a pair of free throws by Curry with 5.4 seconds left, the Grizzlies had one final probability — however Santi Aldama couldn’t inbound the ball earlier than a five-second violation.
Desmond Bane scored 30 factors and Ja Morant 22 for Memphis, which is able to head house to play Friday in opposition to the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup on Wednesday night time in Sacramento to find out the eighth playoff spot.
With the Grizzlies on a roll halfway by means of the third, Butler grabbed momentum again with a steal and dunk. He shot 12 for 20 in a second straight 30-point efficiency and his highest scoring recreation since becoming a member of the Warriors on the commerce deadline. He made 12 of 18 free throws — having been 63 of 68 from the road over the earlier eight video games in April.
Grizzlies on April 15, 2025. AP
Morant went down exhausting rolling his proper ankle when he stepped on Buddy Hield’s foot and was fouled by Quinten Publish with 4:25 remaining within the third however bought up and completed the three-point play to drag the Grizzlies inside 82-81.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 factors, whereas Zach Edey contributed 14 factors, 17 rebounds and hit two free throws with 14.3 seconds left.
Curry had eight rebounds, 4 assists and shot 9 for 22 whereas recurrently swarmed by Scotty Pippen Jr. earlier than he fouled out late.
Curry had lit up the Grizzlies for 52 factors on their house ground in a 134-125 win on April 1, and the Grizzlies made him a prime precedence this time — so Butler took cost.
“He’s different,” Draymond Inexperienced stated.
He led 4 straight scoring possessions to place the Warriors up 31-18 late within the first quarter — helping on Gary Payton II’s slicing dunk, dishing to Publish for a 3 and making a 3-point shot and three-point play himself.
Butler confirmed no indicators of being affected by a young left quadriceps muscle after he took a knee from Kawhi Leonard on Sunday.
The Warriors hoped to keep away from this additional recreation, however misplaced in time beyond regulation to the Clippers within the regular-season finale on Sunday for his or her third house defeat over the ultimate week.
Curry, Inexperienced and the Warriors had been 0-3 in play-in video games throughout appearances in 2021 and final 12 months. The Grizzlies eradicated them at Chase Heart with a 117-112 time beyond regulation victory in ’21.
