The Golden State Warriors let a 20-point lead slip away but came through in the clutch, grinding out a 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 16, notching their first-ever play-in victory and locking in the seventh seed.
Memphis Grizzlies Top Performers:
Desmond Bane 30 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 47.2 FPS
Bane had to take over with Morant getting hurt and scored 24+ points for the fourth time in his last five games. He’s been on target from deep lately but his limited free-throw production keeps capping his upside. Now with Morant not fully healthy, the Grizzlies will need even more from him to keep their season alive.
Zach Edey 14 PTS | 17 REB | 2 AST | 33.4 FPS
Edey didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but he still managed to reach double figures thanks to a solid 6-for-8 showing at the free-throw line. He’s also been racking up rebounds since the final week of the season, tallying 16 or more in five of seven games. However, his defensive impact wasn’t quite there today.
Jaren Jackson Jr. 18 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 31.2 FPS
Jackson had some clear struggles during the final week of the season, particularly with his outside shooting—hitting 30% or worse from deep in four of his last six games—and pulling down just one rebound in back-to-back games. But he turned it around today and reached 18 or more points in four of his last five. Foul troubles and turnovers remain a concern but there’s a strong chance that he will replicate this performance against the Mavs or the Kings.
Ja Morant 22 PTS | 3 REB | 3 AST | 28.1 FPS
Morant exited the game in the third quarter after tweaking his ankle but he made it back in the fourth and still put together a solid scoring. He also added some decent value in other areas though his turnovers were a bit of a downside. Despite that, he guaranteed after the game that he’ll be playing in the remainder of the play-in tournament. He hasn’t been fully healthy this year but he’s learned to adapt so he should still be able to find ways to contribute. That said, his outside shooting will be crucial. While it’s been a shaky part of his game this year, he’s shown notable improvements lately, averaging nearly four made threes per game at a 40% clip over his last five games of the season.
Santi Aldama 14 PTS | 8 REB | 2 AST | 25.6 FPS
Santi has been a significant part of the rotation off the bench in recent weeks and has been a valuable contributor in scoring, secondary categories and with occasional good defensive performances. While he hasn’t posted exceptional numbers lately, his steady production keeps him fantasy-relevant.
Golden State Warriors Top Performers:
Jimmy Butler 38 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST | 62.4 FPS
Butler helped secure the franchise’s first-ever play-in victory after the team surrendered all three of their previous games. He got off to a hot start with 21 points in the first half, giving his team the edge at halftime, then added 13 more in the third to help keep them in control. He excelled in all shooting areas today and even set a new play-in record with 18 free-throw attempts. That effort also powered him to his second 30-point game since joining the Warriors—with both coming in the last two games, right when the team needed it most. With the Rockets’ elite defense up next, Butler’s ability to contribute across the board will be more important than ever.
Stephen Curry 37 PTS | 8 REB | 4 AST | 54.6 FPS
Curry isn’t at his sharpest offensively, with his injury still affecting his shot. But he powered through and turned it up in the fourth, going 3-for-4 to help his team pull ahead, plus adding four clutch free throws to seal the win. He finished with 6 threes and a perfect 13-for-13 from the line. That said, maintaining this level of play will be a challenge against the Rockets, as he averaged just 16 points on 36% shooting from the field and 30% from three in three games against them this season.
Draymond Green 6 REB | 10 AST | 3 STL | 37.2 FPS
Green didn’t contribute much in the scoring column, but his versatility was on full display—leading the team in assists while continuing his elite defensive play. He’s recorded 3 or more stocks in each of his last four games and should maintain this level of impact against the Rockets, like he did in three of their four meetings this season.
Gary Payton II 12 PTS | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 21.9 FPS
Payton saw an increased role off the bench today with Kuminga now out of the rotation and is likely to hold onto that role moving forward. While his calling card remains rebounding and defense, he’s quietly made strides on offense—posting eight double-digit scoring games since last month.
Quinten Post 11 PTS | 5 REB | 2 AST | 21.0 FPS
Post didn’t have the most productive final week of the season, but he stepped up when it counted, knocking down three triples while adding decent value in other areas. However, since JK hasn’t clicked in the rotation, expect him to take on a much bigger role against the Rockets.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Brandin Podziemski 3 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST
Podziemski had been highly productive heading into the final week of the season, scoring 30 or more fantasy points in five of his last seven games. However, his recent offensive struggles resurfaced today along with a quieter impact in other areas. Despite that, he remains the team’s most reliable option at the shooting guard position.
