SAN FRANCISCO — Jimmy Butler has 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists create opportunities on both ends on every occasion, Stephen Curry scores 37 and the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 Tuesday night in the tournament to earn the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Playoff Jimmy took serious pressure from Curry with his brilliance on the big stage. Curry knocked down a baseline 3 pointer at 1:50 and knocked down on a one-minute clock from the left field.
Golden State is currently heading for the top seven first round series with the Rockets starting with Sunday’s Game 1 in Houston.
After a pair of free throws by curry with 5.4 seconds left, the Grizzlies had their last chance, but Santial Dama was unable to suck the ball before a five-second violation.
Desmond Bain scored 30 points and 22 Ja Morandt for Memphis. This will host the winner of the Mavericks Kings matchup on Wednesday night in Sacramento, determining the eighth playoff spot.
With the Grizzlies on the roll midway through the third, Butler grabbed momentum with stealing and dunking. He shot 12 in 20 in his second straight 30-point performance and his best scoring game.
He converted 12 out of 18 free throws. He was 63 out of the line 63 out of 68 in the eight games before April.
Morant rolled his right ankle violently as he stepped into Buddy Heald’s foot, and was fouled third to Quinten Post with 4:25 left, but converted the three-point play by pulling a 3-point play within 82-81.
The Grizzlies on April 15th, 2025. AP
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 points, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points and 17 rebounds, converting two free throws with 14.3 seconds left.
Curry shot nine with eight rebounds, four assists and 22 people, and after regular crowds at Scotty Pippen Jr. he was late and fouled out.
Curry scored 52 points on the home floor in a 134-125 victory on April 1, and Butler was in charge this time as the Grizzlies made him the top priority.
He led four straight-scoring possessions to move the Warriors up 31-18 late in the first quarter. He supported Gary Payton II’s cutting dunk, making three-point shots and three-point plays.
Butler showed no signs of affecting his soft left quadriceps after robbing his knee from Kawi Leonard on Sunday.
The Warriors wanted to avoid this extra game, but lost overtime to the Clippers in their third home loss in their final week in Sunday’s regular season finale.
Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors were 0-3 in play-in games during their appearances in 2021 and last year. The Grizzlies eliminated them at the Chase Center in 2021 with a 117-112 overtime victory.
