For the reason that Golden State Warriors received their most up-to-date NBA championship in 2022, their again has been in opposition to the wall within the relentless Western Convention.
They received 12 of their first 15 video games within the 2024-25 marketing campaign however proceeded to tumble down the standings. The arrival of Jimmy Butler breathed new life into the Dubs, earlier than a slide within the last week of the common season thrust them into the Play-In Match for a second consecutive yr. Golden State was as soon as once more compelled to claw its manner out of hazard, and it did so by surviving the vising Memphis Grizzlies.
Butler posted his greatest recreation but as a member of the Warriors, totaling 38 factors, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals whereas capturing 12-of-18 within the 121-116 win. Stephen Curry placed on his chef hat within the fourth quarter, flattening a number of clutch 3-pointers to keep at bay the Grizzlies and ending with 37 factors and eight rebounds.
That is proper, this sensational duo mixed for greater than half of the Warriors’ offensive output, and even then, it nonetheless took a devastating Grizzlies in-bound blunder to place the sport firmly in Golden State’s grasp. Some followers view this squad as weak coming into its first-round playoffs sequence versus the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets. Steve Kerr is simply relieved to get a recent begin and grateful for the chance to breathe a bit.
“We desperately wanted to win this recreation and get 4 days,” the Warriors head coach advised reporters after the victory, per NBC Sports activities Bay Space’s Dalton Johnson. “Took 83 video games, however we’re proper again the place we wish to be within the playoffs.”
Warriors look to construct momentum after combating to make postseason
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As soon as an skilled group loaded with expertise and championship rings finds its footing, the remainder of the convention is placed on discover. The one query, although, is do the Dubs have their ft firmly planted on the bottom?
Jonathan Kuminga spent one other recreation on the bench and enters the playoffs with an undefined position. Brandin Podziemski continues to be a streaky shooter regardless of the latest strides he has made. And though Quinten Put up and Gary Payton II mixed for 23 factors versus Memphis, Kerr requires extra offensive manufacturing from his bench.
However Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced may place the Warriors for an additional deep postseason run. They have to take full benefit of the subsequent 4 days and get themselves prepared for the Rockets. Avoiding a do-or-die Play-In recreation in opposition to both the Sacramento Kings or Dallas Mavericks, which might have occurred on Friday, is undoubtedly big for a group that depends a lot on its veteran core.
Tuesday’s hard-earned, determined win over Memphis may sarcastically be the best way the Warriors lastly escape desperation mode.