The Golden State Warriors nearly blew it Tuesday night, but when it mattered most, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler put on their capes.
Despite coughing up a 20-point lead in the second half, the Warriors held off a furious Memphis Grizzlies rally to secure a massive 121-116 win and punch their ticket to the playoffs. Curry finished with 37 points, including the team’s final 10, while Butler added 38 in one of his most complete performances since joining Golden State.
Curry once again reminded the world why he’s one of the most feared closers in the game. After a relatively quiet stretch, he erupted in the final two minutes, draining back-to-back threes and icing the game with four clutch free throws. It was vintage Steph — calm, clinical, and absolutely cold-blooded.
Jimmy Butler, meanwhile, was relentless from the opening tip. He bullied Memphis on both ends, finishing with 38 points on 12-for-20 shooting, along with seven boards, six dimes, and three steals. His relentless pace and two-way intensity gave the Warriors life whenever the Grizzlies made a run.
After the game, Butler couldn’t help but give his co-star the ultimate praise.
“That’s a Batman if I ever seen a Batman,” Butler said of Curry. “Always coming to save the day. You’re never out of any game. More than anything, he’s just so poised, he’s so calm. He was a huge part of this victory.”
With the win, Golden State locks up the No. 7 seed in the West and will face the Houston Rockets in the first round — a series packed with star power and bad blood. As for Memphis, they’ll get one more shot to make the playoffs on Friday against the loser of the Mavericks-Kings game.
If Tuesday was any indication, Curry and Butler are dialed in — and the rest of the NBA better be on notice.
