Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III combined for 75 points as the Golden State Warriors edged out the Memphis Grizzlies 121–116 on Tuesday night, securing the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs.
The play-in showdown at San Francisco’s Chase Center was packed with drama. Golden State built a 20-point lead, but Memphis came roaring back in the second half to briefly take the lead late in the fourth quarter. That’s when Curry stepped up — scoring 15 of his 37 points in the final period to seal the win.
Butler, who added 38 points of his own, had high praise for his teammate’s clutch performance.
“That’s a Batman if I’ve ever seen a Batman – always coming to save the day,” Butler said of Curry.
Curry knocked down six three-pointers and hit all 13 of his free-throw attempts, showcasing vintage poise in the game’s biggest moments.
The Warriors now advance to face the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Grizzlies Still Alive
Memphis was led by Desmond Bane’s 30 points and 22 from Ja Morant, who briefly left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury but returned to finish. The Grizzlies will get another shot at making the playoffs when they face the winner of Wednesday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings for the final West spot.
Magic Roll Over Hawks to Set Up Celtics Clash
In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic comfortably punched their playoff ticket with a 120–95 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Cole Anthony led the charge with 26 points off the bench, while rookie Anthony Black added 16. The Magic outscored Atlanta by 20 in the fourth quarter to turn a close contest into a blowout.
Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 19 points and Paolo Banchero nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Orlando will now take on the defending champion Boston Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs, starting Sunday.
Hawks’ Last Chance
Atlanta, led by Trae Young’s 28 points before his late ejection, still has a shot to reach the postseason. They’ll face the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat for the East’s final playoff spot.
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