Butler and Curry power Warriors past Grizzlies in thrilling Play-In duel

In a tense and captivating Play-In Tournament clash, the Golden State Warriors survived a valiant effort from the Memphis Grizzlies, securing a 121-116 victory thanks to a herculean performance from their dynamic duo, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry.

The newly formed tandem combined for a staggering 75 points, propelling Golden State to a first-round playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets.

While Curry ultimately iced the game with late free throws, finishing with 37 points, the night undeniably belonged to Butler.


In his highly anticipated Warriors postseason debut since arriving in February, Butler exploded for a game-high 38 points, consistently attacking the basket and exploiting the Grizzlies' defensive strategy that often shaded towards containing Curry.

His aggressive drives and relentless energy proved to be the crucial difference-maker for Golden State.

"We've got a hell of a Batman in Steph," a jubilant Butler told TNT post-game, acknowledging Curry's brilliance. "And we got a group of guys that have a lot of fight. They never give up. And we did what we were supposed to do, finally."

The Grizzlies, despite facing a significant scoring deficit and the setback of a late third-quarter ankle injury to their star Ja Morant (who still returned to play through the pain), showcased remarkable resilience.

Desmond Bane was exceptional, pouring in 30 points. However, their spirited comeback ultimately fell short in the final moments.

With just 5.4 seconds remaining and trailing by three, Memphis failed to even get a shot off, succumbing to a costly five-second inbounds violation – a heartbreaking end to their Play-In journey.

This victory marks a significant step forward for the Warriors, who, after acquiring Butler mid-season, have found the offensive firepower they desperately needed to complement Curry's brilliance.

Instead of facing a potentially perilous elimination game and a first-round series against the higher-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, they now earn valuable rest and a seemingly more favorable matchup against the young Houston Rockets.

As they now set their sights on Houston, the Warriors, fueled by the brilliance of Butler and Curry, have undoubtedly injected a fresh wave of excitement and expectation into their postseason aspirations. Game 1 against the Rockets is scheduled for Sunday.