The Golden State Warriors are back in the playoffs after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in a high-stakes Play-In Tournament game Tuesday night.
Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 75 points, leading a resilient Warriors squad that secured the West’s No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets.
After the game, head coach Steve Kerr addressed the significance of the victory, describing it as a postseason-level battle despite its unofficial status.
“It’s a playoff game, even though it disappears into the ether,” Kerr told reporters postgame. “It took 83 games, but we’re right where we want to be, which is back in the playoffs.”
The Warriors entered the contest having played what Kerr described as “knockout games” for three weeks straight, and he emphasized the value of now getting four days to rest and prepare.
“We desperately needed to win this game and get four days,” Kerr said. “These guys need that desperately right now.”
Butler drew defensive attention from Memphis, but the Warriors had anticipated the Grizzlies would sag off him.
Kerr credited Butler’s basketball IQ and ability to generate free throws even with defenders playing off him, noting his 18 trips to the line.
“He controls games,” Kerr said. “That’s why he is who he is.”
The Warriors coach also acknowledged Butler’s evolution of the team’s offensive identity, which now includes isolation play in key moments.
“We’ve never been an ISO team here,” Kerr said. “Jimmy has completely changed everything for us since he’s been here.”
Curry sealed the win with back-to-back clutch threes in the final two minutes, while Butler’s third-quarter steal and dunk halted a Memphis comeback.
Golden State’s role players also stepped up, with Quinten Post hitting three triples, Gary Payton II contributing hustle plays, and Draymond Green orchestrating the offense with 10 assists.
Kerr said the game plan emphasized winning effort plays against a big, physical Grizzlies lineup that collected 16 offensive rebounds.
“Every possession matters, and I thought our guys played that way,” Kerr said.
They will face the second-seeded Rockets, who finished 52-30, in the opening round starting Sunday.
