In an electrifying matchup during the NBA Play-In Tournament, Jimmy Butler showcased his talents with an impressive 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Butler's performance not only provided critical scoring but also created opportunities on both ends of the court, relieving some of the pressure off fellow star Stephen Curry, who added 37 points to the team’s tally.
The Warriors secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs with this hard-fought victory, setting the stage for a best-of-seven first-round series against the Houston Rockets, which begins on Sunday. In the closing minutes of the game, Curry hit a crucial three-pointer from the baseline with 1:50 left, followed by another from the left wing to solidify Golden State's lead. After Curry made a pair of free throws with just 5.4 seconds remaining, the Grizzlies had one last opportunity. However, a five-second violation on Santi Aldama ended their hopes for a comeback.
For the Grizzlies, Desmond Bane led the scoring with 30 points, while Ja Morant contributed 22 points. Despite their efforts, Memphis will now head home to face the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup, which will determine the eighth playoff spot. The Grizzlies had been on a roll midway through the third quarter when Butler turned the momentum back in favor of the Warriors with a pivotal steal and dunk.
Butler's performance was particularly notable, as he shot 12 of 20 from the field, marking his second consecutive game scoring over 30 points and his highest output since joining the Warriors at the trade deadline. He also converted 12 of 18 free throws, continuing a stellar run at the charity stripe, where he has been 63 of 68 over his previous eight games in April.
Morant faced a scare when he rolled his right ankle after stepping on Buddy Hield’s foot, but he managed to recover and complete a three-point play to pull the Grizzlies within one point at 82-81. Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 18 points, while Zach Edey added 14 points and 17 rebounds, showcasing a balanced scoring effort from Memphis. Curry, meanwhile, had eight rebounds and four assists, shooting 9 for 22 despite being frequently guarded by Scotty Pippen Jr., who eventually fouled out late in the game.
Looking back at Curry's prior performance against the Grizzlies, where he exploded for 52 points in a 134-125 victory on April 1, it was clear that Memphis made stopping him a top priority. This allowed Butler to take charge, as he orchestrated four consecutive scoring possessions that put the Warriors ahead 31-18 late in the first quarter, including assists to Gary Payton II and Quinten Post, as well as scoring himself.
Despite a tender left quadriceps muscle from a previous game against Kawhi Leonard, Butler showed no signs of being hindered. The Warriors entered the tournament hoping to avoid playing this extra game but faced a disappointing overtime loss to the Clippers in their regular-season finale. Historically, Curry and the Warriors had struggled in play-in games, going 0-3 in their previous appearances in 2021 and 2022, with the Grizzlies eliminating them in 2021.
In another significant game of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Orlando Magic triumphed over the Atlanta Hawks with a decisive 120-95 victory. Cole Anthony came off the bench to lead the Magic, scoring 26 points and dishing out six assists. Paolo Banchero contributed 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds to bolster Orlando's offensive effort.
Anthony Black also made an impact off the bench, scoring 16 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting, marking the Magic's first appearance in a play-in game. With a balanced performance, the Magic earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 41-41 record. They will begin their playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
For the Hawks, Trae Young was the standout player, scoring 28 points and providing six assists before receiving two technical fouls and an automatic ejection with 4:47 left in the game. Atlanta, which has utilized the play-in route to reach the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, will now prepare for a crucial home game on Friday against the winner of the upcoming Bulls vs. Miami Heat matchup for the eighth playoff spot.
Despite the loss, the Hawks had contributions from Georges Niang, who scored 15 points, and Onyeka Okongwu, with 11 points and nine rebounds. However, the Hawks struggled offensively in the latter part of the game, scoring just two points in the final six minutes of the first quarter. Anthony’s resurgence, after struggling through an injury-plagued season where he averaged just 9.4 points, was a key factor in the Magic’s impressive victory.
