Playoff Jimmy — or, ought to we are saying Play-in Jimmy — is again.
Jimmy Butler III scored 38 factors, acquired to the free-throw line 18 occasions, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out 5 assists — and the Warriors wanted all of that on an evening their offense was sluggish a lot of the sport. Then within the clutch, Golden State acquired a few key Stephen Curry 3-pointers and held on to beat the Grizzlies 104-101.
That win formally advances the Warriors because the No. 7 seed within the West, and they’re going to journey to Houston to face the Rockets within the first spherical, beginning Sunday (a collection that will likely be very evenly matched). Memphis will head dwelling and put together for Friday, when it’ll face the winner of Wednesday’s Dallas/Sacramento sport in a battle for the No. 8 seed.
This was the sort of sport that may be a reminder of why the Warriors will likely be such a tricky out. That begins with Playoff Jimmy, who simply takes a few of the offensive strain off Curry.
“I do know I wish to win a championship so he wants, his what, this is able to be No. 5?” Butler mentioned, by way of the Related Press.
From the opening tip, Butler went proper on the Grizzlies’ anchor, 7’4” Zach Edey. When Edey performed off him early, Butler drained a few 3-pointers proper over him. That introduced Edey out, and Butler began going downhill, getting previous him, into the paint, and drawing fouls.
Past Butler, different Warriors stepped up, together with Gary Payton II and Quinten Publish off the bench. And, as all the time, within the clutch there was Curry doing Curry issues.
After a quick 11-2 begin to the sport by the Grizzlies, the Warriors settled down and did a superb job preserving Memphis out of the paint. The Warriors’ protection held the Grizzlies to 38.7% capturing for 1 / 4 and a half, then used these misses and a bunch of turnovers to get buckets in transition, drive cross-matches early within the clock, and primarily get no matter they wished on offense. Which is why they led by 20.
Give the Grizzlies credit score, they fought again and confirmed actual grit — they took the lead within the fourth quarter and made it a one-point sport within 10 seconds left. Desmond Bane led the best way with 30 for Memphis together with hitting 5 3-pointers, Ja Morant scored 22 and returned to play the fourth quarter regardless of turning his ankle within the third quarter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 factors. Whereas picked on defensively, Edey completed with 14 factors, 17 rebounds and was a +6 for the sport.
When it acquired to the clutch, the Warriors merely executed higher. Stephen Curry helps with that, however so does the participant and organizational expertise.
That have is what makes the Warriors a risk in opposition to a younger Rockets crew.
“It took 83 video games however we’re proper the place we wish to be, which is again within the playoffs and we’ve acquired an opportunity,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned.
