Butler, Curry lead Warriors past Grizzlies, into playoffs - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry threw their arms around each other and embraced.

«Playoff Jimmy,» in all his brilliance on the big stage, took the pressure off Curry, and now they're taking the Golden State Warriors to the playoffs.

«I know I want to win a championship, so he needs his, what, this would be No. 5?» Butler said.

Butler had 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists, creating opportunities on both ends at every chance. Curry scored 37, and the Warriors earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night in the play-in tournament.

Curry knocked down a baseline 3-pointer with 1:50 to go and one from the left wing with a minute on the clock then converted four free throws in the closing five seconds.

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

«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,» Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.

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 play Friday against the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup Wednesday night in Sacramento to determine the eighth playoff spot.

With the Grizzlies on a roll midway through the third, Butler grabbed momentum 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 made 12 of 18 free throws — after having been 63-of-68 from the