NBA: Curry and Butler III Lead Warriors Past Grizzlies in Play-In Thriller, Set Up Playoff Clash With Rockets

In a gripping Play-in Tournament battle, the Golden State Warriors edged the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 at Chase Center on Tuesday night, April 15, securing a spot in the NBA Playoffs first round. 

The win came on the back of a sensational combined performance from Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, who poured in 75 points to push the Warriors through to a matchup against the Houston Rockets.

The tone was set early as the Warriors stormed to a 31-25 first-quarter lead, thanks in large part to Butler III’s sharp shooting. The guard hit all his three-point attempts, notching 10 points and tying his season-best for threes in a quarter. Golden State’s defense was equally impressive, recording five steals in the first frame alone — their best mark for a single quarter this season.

Memphis, by contrast, struggled to find rhythm, shooting just 38.1% from the field while turning the ball over seven times. Despite rookie Zach Edey’s strong rebounding presence and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s early scoring, the Grizzlies trailed 67-55 at halftime. Butler led the Warriors with 21 points, matching his season-high set against Detroit last December. Curry added 15 points, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.

The third quarter saw a spirited Grizzlies fightback. Even as star guard Ja Morant suffered an ankle sprain midway through the quarter, Memphis rallied behind their bench and Desmond Bane’s hot hand. Bane, who matched Curry’s third-quarter total of 22 points, helped slice the deficit to just three points at 94-91 entering the final period.

Memphis tied the game early in the fourth, completing a 20-point comeback, but Butler III responded emphatically. He notched a season-high 38 points, surpassing Curry’s own tally of 37 for the night. Zach Edey added a career-high 17 rebounds to go with five points, despite drawing sharp criticism from analyst Charles Barkley during the halftime show.

“[Edey’s] only got five points… If you’re gonna get abused on defense, you better make up for it on the offensive end,” Barkley remarked.

Golden State sealed the win with clutch free throws from Curry, who was fouled twice in the final minute, extending the lead to five. Though Draymond Green and Moses Moody fouled out, the Warriors held firm.

The Warriors now prepare to face Houston in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for a win-or-go-home clash on Friday against the winner of Sacramento Kings vs Dallas Mavericks for the final Western Conference playoff berth.