After years of frustration in the play-in tournament, the Golden State Warriors finally broke through. Fueled by standout performances from Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, the team knocked off the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night. The win officially sets the stage for a high-profile first-round playoff clash: Warriors vs Rockets
Curry, Butler Lead the Charge in Play-In Victory
Curry finished the night with 37 points, while Butler delivered his most dominant game since joining the team, pouring in 38. The crowd at Chase Center erupted with 3.4 seconds remaining as Curry waved his arms, signaling both a celebration and a sigh of relief.
“Just feels good to finally move forward,” Curry said. “It’s been a grind.”
Golden State had come up short in all three of its previous play-in appearances, including a season-ending loss last year. Coach Steve Kerr credited the team’s endurance, noting they’d been playing “must-win” basketball for nearly a month.
Warriors vs Rockets: A Familiar Playoff Rivalry Reignites
By clinching the seventh seed, the Warriors now face a familiar postseason rival in the second-seeded Houston Rockets. This marks the fifth playoff meeting between the two teams, with Golden State having won each of the previous four series from 2015 to 2019.
“We’ve had some battles with Houston over the years,” Curry said. “Feels like tradition at this point.”
While the Rockets are fielding a new-look squad, the stakes remain sky-high as both teams aim to make a deep playoff push.
Butler’s Emergence Fuels Golden State’s Momentum
Butler has been on another level since a tough loss to Houston in early April. In back-to-back high-pressure games — Sunday against the Clippers and Tuesday against the Grizzlies — he totaled 68 points and shot 60% from the field in both outings.
The Warriors raced out to a 20-point lead in the second quarter before Memphis mounted a comeback. Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 30 points, and Ja Morant, despite rolling his ankle, added 22.
Still, when the moment called for a closer, Curry answered. He scored 15 points in the final seven minutes, including back-to-back threes in crunch time.
Playoffs Begin Sunday: Butler, Warriors Ready for Rockets
Tuesday’s win snapped a three-game losing streak in play-in scenarios and breathed new life into Golden State’s season. Curry emphasized how nothing in the NBA is guaranteed, especially a playoff berth.
“You see a lot of talented teams watching from home,” he said. “That’s why games like these matter.”
Butler, who was acquired to be the missing piece, echoed that sentiment.
“I told the guys I could help,” Butler said. “Didn’t know how exactly, but I knew we’d get here. Now we’ve got our shot.”
The Warriors vs Rockets tip-off on Sunday in Houston, where playoff history runs deep, and the stakes run even deeper.
