Jimmy Butler had 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists, creating opportunities at both ends at every chance, Stephen Curry scored 37, and the Golden State Warriors earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 Tuesday night in the Play-In Tournament.

Playoff Jimmy in all his brilliance on the big stage, took serious pressure off Curry, who knocked down a baseline 3-pointer with 1:50 to go and one from the left wing with 1:00 on the clock.

Golden State is now headed for a best-of-seven first-round series with the Rockets, beginning with Game 1 on Sunday at Houston.

After a pair of free throws by Curry with 5.4 seconds left, the Grizzlies had one last chance - but Santi Aldama couldn’t inbound the ball before a five-second violation.

Desmond Bane scored 30 points and Ja Morant 22 for Memphis, which will head home to host the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup on Wednesday night in Sacramento to determine the eighth playoff spot.

With the Grizzlies on a roll midway through the third, Butler grabbed momentum right back with a steal and dunk. He shot 12 for 20 in a second straight 30-point performance and his highest scoring game since joining the Warriors at the trade deadline. He converted 12 of 18 free throws - having been 63 of 68 from the line over the previous eight games in April.

Morant went down hard, rolling his right ankle when he stepped on Buddy Hield’s foot and was fouled by Quinten Post with 4:25 remaining in the third, but got up and converted the three-point play to pull the Grizzlies within 82-81.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 points, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points, 17 rebounds and converted two free throws with 14.3 seconds left.

Curry had eight rebounds, four assists and shot 9 for 22 while being regularly swarmed by Scotty Pippen Jr. before he fouled out late.

STEPH SAID GET LOUD pic.twitter.com/pYiwp1MVIf

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 16, 2025

Magic beat Hawks to claim 7th seed

Cole Anthony came off the bench with 26 points and six assists to lead the Orlando Magic to a 120-95 win over the Atlanta Hawks in the first game of the Play-In Tournament.

Paolo Banchero had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Magic, and Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Black, also off the bench, scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Magic’s first appearance in a play-in game.

Earning the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed after a 41-41 regular season, the Magic will play in a first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics starting on Sunday at Boston.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points and six assists before getting two technical fouls and an automatic ejection with 4:47 remaining.

The Hawks, who have reached the playoffs through the play-in route in two of the last three seasons, will play at home Friday night for the eighth spot against the winner of Wednesday night’s game at Chicago between the Bulls and the Miami Heat.

Banchero and Black produced most of the offence and the Hawks scored just two points in the final 6 minutes of the first quarter.

Anthony, who averaged 9.4 points in an injury-plagued season, made 10 of 17 shots, including 4 of 9 3-pointers.

the way i am going to go get this framed immediately pic.twitter.com/hXYmNVg1rs

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 16, 2025