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Victor Petkov
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Butler, Curry lead Warriors past Grizzlies to clinch No. 7 seed
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“Playoff Jimmy” pushed Golden State over Memphis, GS will face Rockets in the first round of the playoffs

Jimmy Butler scored 38 points, added 7 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists as the Golden State Warriors edged the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday night.

The win secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs for Golden State.

Butler delivered a classic “Playoff Jimmy” performance, making big plays on both ends of the floor and taking pressure off Stephen Curry, who added 37 points of his own. Curry hit two clutch three-pointers in the final two minutes — one from the baseline with 1:50 remaining and another from the left wing with a minute to go — and iced the game with two free throws with 5.4 seconds left.

The Grizzlies had a final opportunity to tie or win, but Santi Aldama failed to inbound the ball in time, committing a five-second violation that sealed Memphis’ fate.

Desmond Bane scored 30 points and Ja Morant had 22 for the Grizzlies, who will now host the winner of the Mavericks vs. Kings matchup in a do-or-die game for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Butler, who joined the Warriors at the trade deadline, shot 12-for-20 from the field and 12-of-18 from the free-throw line. It was his second consecutive 30-point game and his highest scoring outing since arriving in Golden State. He’s now 75-of-86 from the line over his last nine games.

The Warriors move on to face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round series starting Sunday in Houston.