“Playoff Showdown: Butler’s 38 and Curry’s 37 Ignite Thrilling Battle as Warriors Secure No. 7 Seed!”

In the pulsating world of professional basketball, narratives often emerge from the most unexpected moments. This time, we’re witnessing the resurgence of Jimmy Butler III, affectionately dubbed “Playoff Jimmy” or, in this case, perhaps more aptly, “Play-in Jimmy.” With a dazzling performance that lit up the court, Butler dropped 38 points, establishing himself as the linchpin the Golden State Warriors sorely needed during a muted offensive night. His ability to draw fouls and dominate the game was on full display as the Warriors battled through a sluggish start to outlast the Memphis Grizzlies 104-101. This win not only secures their place as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference but also sets up a compelling first-round clash against the Houston Rockets— a matchup that’s bound to keep fans on the edge of their seats. As the Warriors gear up for this next challenge, the experience and execution of their veteran roster could prove pivotal against a younger, determined Rockets team. So, buckle up as we dive deeper into the electrifying moments from the game, the players’ standout performances, and what this all means for the Warriors’ championship aspirations. LEARN MORE.

After a fast 11-2 start to the game by the Grizzlies, the Warriors settled down and did a good job keeping Memphis out of the paint. The Warriors’ defense held the Grizzlies to 38.7% shooting for a quarter and a half, then used those misses and a bunch of turnovers to get buckets in transition, force cross-matches early in the clock, and essentially get whatever they wanted on offense. Which is why they led by 20.“It took 83 games but we’re right where we want to be, which is back in the playoffs and we’ve got a chance,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
“I know I want to win a championship so he needs, his what, this would be No. 5?” Butler said, via the Associated Press.This was the kind of game that is a reminder of why the Warriors will be such a tough out. That starts with Playoff Jimmy, who just takes some of the offensive pressure off Curry.

Playoff Jimmy — or, should we say Play-in Jimmy — is back.From the opening tip, Butler went right at the Grizzlies’ anchor, 7’4” Zach Edey. When Edey played off him early, Butler drained a couple of 3-pointers right over him. That brought Edey out, and Butler started going downhill, getting past him, into the paint, and drawing fouls.That win officially advances the Warriors as the No. 7 seed in the West, and they will travel to Houston to face the Rockets in the first round, starting Sunday (a series that will be very evenly matched). Memphis will head home and prepare for Friday, when it will face the winner of Wednesday’s Dallas/Sacramento game in a fight for the No. 8 seed.Beyond Butler, other Warriors stepped up, including Gary Payton II and Quinten Post off the bench. And, as always, in the clutch there was Curry doing Curry things.Give the Grizzlies credit, they fought back and showed real grit — they took the lead in the fourth quarter and made it a one-point game inside of 10 seconds left. Desmond Bane led the way with 30 for Memphis including hitting five 3-pointers, Ja Morant scored 22 and returned to play the fourth quarter despite turning his ankle in the third quarter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points. While picked on defensively, Edey finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and was a +6 for the game.Jimmy Butler III scored 38 points, got to the free-throw line 18 times, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out five assists — and the Warriors needed all of that on a night their offense was sluggish much of the game. Then in the clutch, Golden State got a couple of key Stephen Curry 3-pointers and hung on to beat the Grizzlies 104-101.That experience is what makes the Warriors a threat against a young Rockets team.When it got to the clutch, the Warriors simply executed better. Stephen Curry helps with that, but so does the player and organizational experience.