I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my day, but last night’s Warriors-Grizzlies showdown had me pacing around my living room like a madman. The Play-In Tournament has become one of the NBA’s most brilliant additions in recent years, and Tuesday night’s battle between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center perfectly illustrated why.
The Butler-Curry Show Takes Center Stage
Let me tell you something when Jimmy Butler came to the Warriors at the trade deadline, I was skeptical. But boy, was I wrong. In what might be the most significant moment of Golden State’s season, “Playoff Jimmy” showed up in spectacular fashion, dropping 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Butler was absolutely unstoppable, going 12-for-20 from the field and 12-for-18 from the charity stripe.
And what about Steph? Despite dealing with a thumb injury on his shooting hand (did you notice that splint he was wearing?), Curry poured in 37 points, including some absolutely backbreaking three-pointers down the stretch. That baseline three with 1:50 to go? Pure Curry magic. And then another from the left wing with a minute left? Dagger.
“I know I want to win a championship so he needs, his what, this would be No. 5?” Butler said about Curry after the game. The chemistry between these two stars was palpable, with Butler even referring to Curry as “Batman” in his post-game comments. Their combined 75 points proved to be the difference-maker, accounting for well over half of the Warriors’ total points.
The Game That Almost Got Away
The first half felt like a Warriors highlight reel. I almost spilled my nachos when Golden State built a lead that stretched to 20 points. Butler led four straight scoring possessions in the first quarter assisting on Gary Payton II’s cutting dunk, dishing to Post for a three, and making a three-point shot and three-point play himself. By halftime, the Warriors had a comfortable 67-55 lead, and I was already mentally preparing for a first-round matchup with Houston.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned watching the NBA for decades never count out a desperate team.
The Grizzlies refused to go quietly. Led by Desmond Bane’s incredible 30-point performance, Memphis mounted a furious second-half comeback. Bane was nearly unstoppable, going 11-for-21 from the field and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. And despite a scary moment when Ja Morant went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter after stepping on Buddy Hield’s foot, the Grizzlies superstar returned to finish with 22 points.
By the fourth quarter, the impossible happened the Grizzlies not only erased the deficit but actually took a 96-94 lead at the 11:00 mark. My heart sank. Was this going to be another classic Warriors collapse?
The Controversial Ending
The final five minutes of this game aged me about ten years. With the Warriors clinging to a 117-116 lead and just 5.4 seconds remaining, Memphis had one last chance to pull off the miracle comeback.
And then… chaos.
Santi Aldama tried to inbound the ball, looking for Desmond Bane in the corner for a potential game-tying three-pointer. But before he could make the pass, the referee whistled for a five-second violation. Game over.
Social media exploded. “That’s gotta be one of the quickest five-second calls I’ve ever seen,” remarked one fan on X. Another claimed it was “the fastest 5-second call I’ve ever seen, lmao.”
Aldama himself seemed stunned by the quickness of the call. “I don’t think anybody was open really,” he said after the game. “I thought it was a quick five seconds.”
Bane was more diplomatic but equally surprised: “I don’t know, I’ll have to watch it back. Give them credit, they did a decent job. A five-second call, a tough call to make in a one-possession game with five seconds left in the game. But that’s the call they made and yeah, that’s it.”
But as a basketball purist, I have to admit after rewinding and timing it myself, the call was correct. It just felt rushed in such a pivotal moment.
What This Means for Both Teams
The Warriors’ victory secured them the seventh seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday at the Toyota Center. For Golden State, this feels like a new lease on life after a roller-coaster season.
“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,” coach Steve Kerr said after the game. And isn’t that all you can ask for?
For Memphis, the journey isn’t over yet but it’s certainly gotten more treacherous. They’ll face the winner of the Sacramento Kings-Dallas Mavericks play-in game on Friday, with the eighth and final playoff spot on the line. The big question mark will be Morant’s ankle. Coach Tuomas Iisalo had no updates on Morant’s injury after the game but praised his determination, comparing it to Isiah Thomas’s legendary performance in the 1988 Finals.
The Rivalry Continues
This wasn’t just any game it was another chapter in what has become one of the NBA’s most intense rivalries. Remember when these teams met earlier this month? Curry went absolutely nuclear, dropping 52 points to lead the Warriors to a 134-125 victory.
And who could forget the history between these franchises in the play-in format? The Grizzlies eliminated the Warriors at Chase Center with a 117-112 overtime victory back in 2021. Tuesday’s game felt like sweet revenge for Golden State.
My Final Thoughts
As I sit here the morning after, sipping my coffee and replaying last night’s game in my head, I can’t help but wonder if this is the spark that ignites another deep Warriors playoff run. The addition of Butler has transformed this team, giving them a legitimate second star to complement Curry.
And honestly, this might be the most dangerous version of the Warriors we’ve seen in years. They have the playoff experience, the star power, and that championship DNA that’s impossible to quantify.
But enough about my take, what did you think of the game? Were you as shocked by that five-second call as most fans? Do you think the Warriors have what it takes to make noise in the playoffs? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Until next time, hoop heads. The real season is just beginning.
