Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carry Warriors to thrilling play-in victory over Grizzlies

SAN FRANCISCO – The seventh-seeded Warriors entered Tuesday night’s game at Chase Center looking to move past their . Facing them was a familiar foe.

The Memphis Grizzlies, four years prior, had eliminated the Warriors from the 2021 play-in tournament. It was a loss that contributed to Golden State’s 0-3 record in the round in three trips.

To break through and outlast Memphis 121-116, Golden State followed the formula that fueled its second-half turnaround.

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) is fouled by Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

led the team in scoring with 38, and Steph Curry made two back-breaking late 3-pointers to help the Warriors survive a spirited last-second Memphis push.

Curry scored the last 10 points of the game.

“Every game for me, though, he’s always … it’s like I always say, you never are really out of any game when you have him on your team,” Butler said.

“Playoff Jimmy” starred at the power forward spot in Golden State’s rollercoaster victory, one that saw star Ja Morant sustain an ankle injury late in the third quarter but re-enter the game as the Grizzlies gave Golden State everything it could handle.

Curry scored a crucial 37 points and the Warriors bench scored 30 to clinch a first-round playoff series with No. 2 seed Houston.

Game 1 will be in Texas on Sunday. Memphis will host the winner of tomorrow night’s Sacramento-Dallas matchup on Friday in a win-or-go-home game.

“We know what it takes to win at a high level. So that’s the focus,” Draymond Green said. “But yeah, the goal is to get to the playoffs and win. So it’s good to be here.”

The Warriors may have won, but it was no walk in the Golden Gate Park.

After enjoying a lead as large as 20, the Grizzlies cut the deficit to just four late in the third.

The Grizzlies endured a major blow when Morant went down holding his ankle after making a floater and landing on Buddy Hield’s foot with 4:25 left in the third quarter. He made the free throw, and then left the game until early in the fourth period.

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) fights for the ball against Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant (12) in first half of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Memphis cut the deficit to just 94-91 entering the fourth quarter, and took a 96-94 lead a minute into the final period on a Desmond Bane 3-pointer.

The teams traded baskets, with the Warriors enjoying a 109-105 lead with five minutes remaining before Memphis cut it to just one with another Bane three.

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The teams continued to go back and forth down the stretch, but in the end, it was Curry’s Hall of Fame shotmaking that pushed Golden State’s lead to 117-111 with a minute to go.

The game was far from over, though, with Draymond Green fouling out, and late Warrior fouls cutting the lead to 117-116.

Curry hit a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining, and Memphis was called for a five-second violation on the ensuing possession.

Curry made two more free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining to ice the game.

Tiipoff time for the Warriors’ playoff opener Sunday against Houston is yet to be announced.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a turnover against the Memphis Grizzlies in the final seconds of fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) takes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey (14) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) fights for the ball against Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey (14) in first half of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) takes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama (7) in fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) takes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against Memphis Grizzlies’ Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) watches his 3-point basket attempt against the Memphis Grizzlies in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) celebrates his 3-point basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in first quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) fights for a rebound against Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey (14) in second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) takes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey (14) in second quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) dunks the ball in front of Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane (22) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) takes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant (12) in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) tries to save the ball from going out-of-bounds against the Memphis Grizzlies in fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) celebrates his dunk against the Memphis Grizzlies in first half of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) talks to Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr about a foul against the Memphis Grizzlies in third quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Memphis Grizzlies in the final seconds of fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks with Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) after their 124-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies for their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 17Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a turnover against the Memphis Grizzlies in the final seconds of fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Expand