Breaking: Warriors Secure Playoff Spot as Jimmy Butler Drops 38, Curry Knocks Down Clutch Threes in Play-In Win Against Grizzlies; Magic Edge Hawks 120-95 to Earn East’s Seventh Seed, Hawks to Battle for Eighth Spot
Breaking: Warriors secure playoff spot, Hawks face play-in; Butler, Curry lead the charge
Golden State Warriors: Playoff Bound After Gritty Win
In a thrilling play-in tournament match, the Golden State Warriors have secured the Western Conference’s seventh seed, booking their ticket to the playoffs. Led by a powerhouse performance from Jimmy Butler and a late-game heroics from Steph Curry, the Dubs outmuscled the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night.
Jimmy Butler: 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Butler, dubbing him ‘Playoff Jimmy’, dominated from the get-go, creating opportunities on both ends with relentless pressure. Shooting 12-20 from the field and converting 12-18 free throws, Butler notched his highest scoring game since joining the Warriors mid-season.
Steph Curry: 37 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
With the Grizzlies prioritizing Curry’s containment, Butler stepped up, taking the pressure off the two-time MVP. Curry, however, showed his class, knocking down a baseline three with 1:50 left and another from the left wing with a minute remaining, sealing the victory.
Play-off bound: Warriors face Rockets
With the win, the Warriors will face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round series. Game 1 is set for Sunday at Houston.
Memphis Grizzlies: One More Chance
The Grizzlies were resilient, with Desmond Bane and Ja Morant scoring 30 and 22 points, respectively. Memphis will host the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup in Sacramento on Wednesday night, with the 8th playoff spot on the line.
Atlanta Hawks: Play-In Heartbreak, Magic μagic
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic outplayed the Atlanta Hawks 120-95, securing the 7th seed and a first-round date with the Boston Celtics. Cole Anthony stole the show for Orlando, dropping 26 points and 6 assists off the bench.
Trae Young’s ejection
The Hawks, who’ve reached the playoffs via the play-in route twice in the last three seasons, willnow fight for the 8th spot against the winner of Bulls-Miami Heat in Chicago on Wednesday. Trae Young’s 28-point, 6-assist performance was cut short, however, as he was ejected after picking up two technical fouls.
Did you know?
- Jimmy Butler has averaged 22.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in his 11 playoff games with the Heat, while scoring a playoff career-high 40 points against the Bucks in 2019.
- Steph Curry’s 402 career 3-pointers in the playoffs are the most in league history.
Pro Tip: Stay tuned for updates on the Warriors’ series against the Rockets. Follow us for real-time news, expert analysis, and insider insights.
FAQs
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Will the Warriors be facing a well-rested Rockets team?
- The Rockets will be fresh, having secured their play-in spot earlier. They last played on April 10.
- What’s the Hawks’ play-in strategy against the Bulls-Heat winner?
- With Trae Young’s ejection a learning curve, the Hawks will look to improve their discipline and maintain a competitive edge throughout.
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