On April 15, 2025, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in a thrilling NBA play-in tournament game at Chase Center, giving them the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed. Stephen Curry was the star, scoring 37 points, including two ice-cold three-pointers in the final minutes to seal the win.
Jimmy Butler, acquired by the Warriors in the offseason, was equally unstoppable, scoring a season-high 38 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists. Their combined 75 points set a play-in record, as no two players had ever scored 35+ points in such a game.
For Memphis, Desmond Bane led the way with 30 points, and Ja Morant added 22 points, though he limped off after hurting his ankle in the third quarter, leading to fears he would return, but not at full speed.
The Grizzlies got off to a hot start and jumped out to an 11-2 lead, but the Warriors’ bench, led by Gary Payton II’s energy and the surprising scoring of rookie Quinton Post, turned the game around and led by 20 points at halftime. Memphis came back in the second half, with Bane’s shooting and Morant’s playmaking erasing the deficit.
They also led briefly in the fourth half, but a controversial five-second violation call on Santi Aldama’s inbounds pass with 5.4 seconds left put an end to their hopes. Grizzlies players and interim coach Tuomas Isalo were furious, calling the referees’ decision a game-changer. Jaren Jackson Jr. also struggled, fouling out and drawing criticism for poor rebounding.
Golden State, breaking its 0-3 play-in curse, now faces the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. The Grizzlies, missing key players like Brandon Clarke, will play the Kings-Mavericks winner for the No. 8 seed. Fans on X erupted over Curry’s clutch three-pointers, Morant’s ankle scare, and the debated officiating, underscoring the game’s high-stakes drama.
However, a costly five-second violation in the closing seconds handed the momentum—and the win—back to Golden State. With this victory, the Warriors are set to face the Houston Rockets in the opening round, while Memphis gets one last shot at the playoffs against the Kings or Mavericks.