There was an injury to a star player, a 20-point deficit erased and a masterclass fourth quarter from Stephen Curry.
The Golden State Warriors outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night in the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament to secure the No. 7 seed and a date with the No. 2 Houston Rockets in the first round of the postseason.
In the 121-116 victory, newly-acquired Warriors forward Jimmy Butler led all players with 38 points, though Curry wasn’t far behind, pouring in 15 of his 37 points in the final period. Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant suffered a tweaked ankle midway through the third quarter but returned, scoring 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
On Friday, in the final game of the play-in, Memphis will face the winner of Wednesday’s Kings-Mavericks game to determine the No. 8 seed in the West.
In Tuesday’s other game, the Magic rolled over the Hawks.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday night’s Warriors-Grizzlies play-in game:
‘Playoff’ Jimmy Butler affirms Warriors’ decision to make deal
When the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, they were 11th in the Western Conference. Now, they have clinched the No. 7 seed, gone 24-8 since making the deal and look like a team that could be a threat to upset Houston.
What the Rockets lack in experience, the Warriors have in abundance. And though Curry scored 15 of Golden State’s final 19 points in the game, including a trio of dagger 3 pointers, it was Butler who took on ball handling and distribution late in the game. And it was Butler who helped spark massive runs during the minutes when Curry was on the bench.
Butler has helped the Warriors improve in most major metrics, and his ability to attack and get to the free throw line — he was 12-of-18 Tuesday night — is essential in the playoffs.
And, if there’s one player who understands how to will a team to massive postseason upsets, it’s Butler, who carried the Heat two seasons ago from a Play-In eight seed to an NBA Finals appearance.
Yes, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry are stars, but role players need to step up
The good news for Golden State is that all eight players not named Curry and Butler scored. The bad news is they didn’t do it very much. The team’s third-leading scorer Tuesday was backup point guard Gary Payton II, whom the Grizzlies were essentially daring to shoot.
He would finish with 12 points, and backup center Quinten Post would add 11. But Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski — a pair of starters — Buddy Hield, Kevon Looney and Gui Santon each converted just one field goal apiece, combining to go 5-for-21 (23.8%) from the floor.
Curry and Butler are the stars. That’s undeniable. But it’s also unsustainable and, frankly, foolish to expect Golden State to make a run while depending so heavily on two players. It also begs the question of why coach Steve Kerr has essentially removed forward Jonathan Kuminga, a gifted if inconsistent scorer who averaged 15.3 points per game this season, from the rotation; Kuminga did not record a single minute Tuesday or in Golden State’s overtime season finale loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Turnovers remain fatal for Grizzlies
Memphis started hot, building a quick nine-point lead minutes into the game. Then, the primary issue that has faced the Grizzlies all season — turnovers — spoiled their offensive rhythm. The Warriors launched a crushing, 29-7 run midway through the first quarter that was fed by seven Memphis giveaways.
Things snowballed from there, as Golden State found comfort and confidence, lacing nine of its first 20 attempted 3s (45%) through 20 minutes of play.
The Grizzlies committed 19 turnovers overall, leading to a 27-12 Warriors advantage in points off giveaways. None was more consequential than a sloppy Morant pass that came with Memphis down 111-109 with just more than two minutes left: Morant tried to find a streaking Zach Edey in the paint, and the turnover led to a Curry triple on the other end, a potential five-point swing.
The Grizzlies have plenty of talent to top the winner of the Kings-Mavericks play-in game Friday night. That would set up a showdown against the best defensive team in the NBA, the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder — a team that led the NBA in turnovers forced per game (17).