Sometimes the greatest shooter ever even surprises himself.

Steph Curry dropped 37 points to help the Dubs clinch the 7 seed.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 16, 2025

Dynamic Duo: Steph & Jimmy combine for 75 to secure 7 seed for Golden State

Another Thriller: After falling to LA in OT on Sunday, the Dubs hold off Memphis to clinch

Magic Clinch: Bench duo shines as Magic snag 7 seed & 1st Round matchup with Celtics

Heat-Bulls Preview: East 9 vs. 10 game sends the winner to Atlanta & the loser home

Mavs-Kings Preview: West 9 vs. 10 game sees one season end & another continue Friday

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Last night’s scores & what to watch today…

It’s win or go home during tonight’s ESPN doubleheader with a pair of 9 vs. 10 games in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. The winners survive to play again Friday, while losers are out.

In the East, the Bulls and Heat (7:30 ET) meet for the 3rd straight year in the Play-In. Which team will advance to face Atlanta?

In the West, the Kings and Mavs (10 ET) meet in the postseason for the first time in two decades, both eyeing a matchup with Memphis.

1. DYNAMIC DUO DELIVERS 7 SEED FOR WARRIORS

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After dropping 38 points in his Warriors postseason debut, Jimmy Butler III didn’t tout his own performance in his postgame interview.

Instead, he spoke in awe of his teammate of 28 games – Steph Curry – who scored 15 of his 37 points in the 4th quarter of the Warriors’ SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament win over Memphis.

• Jimmy On Steph: “That’s a Batman if I’ve ever seen a Batman – 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 and he was a huge part of us getting this victory.”
• More Praise From Jimmy: “I think any team has a chance when I’m on the team… but I KNOW that EVERY team has a chance if Steph’s on the team.”

Butler III and Curry have combined for 70+ points twice as teammates.

Both came against Memphis in the past 15 days.

• On April 1, Steph erupted for 52 points and 12 3s in a historic performance, while Jimmy added 27 in a 134-125 win
• On Tuesday, Jimmy scored a game-high 38, while Steph added 37 in Golden State’s 121-116 win to secure the 7 seed in the Playoffs
• Butler III & Curry became the 1st teammates to both score 35+ in a Play-In game and their 75 combined points are the 2nd most by a duo in the event’s history

The Warriors improved to 23-5 with Butler III and Curry in the lineup together while extending their season with a First Round matchup with No. 2 seed Houston tipping off on Sunday (9:30 ET, TNT).

• Draymond Believes In ‘Playoff Jimmy’: “He’s different… you can just see a whole different intensity level from him … I’m happy he’s on our side.”
• Warriors Coach Steve Kerr On Butler III: “He’s the ultimate two-way player… he’s just so physically strong and laterally quick.”

The Warriors were a game under .500 (25-26) and 10th in the West when they made the decision to acquire Butler III from Miami on Feb. 6.

• Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. When The Deal Was Made: “Jimmy has performed at the highest level for many years in our league, especially when the lights are the brightest during the postseason … We needed another difference-maker on our roster and his addition certainly accomplishes that.”
• Butler III’s performance on Tuesday was the manifestation of those words from Dunleavy Jr. two months prior. Jimmy had 10 points in the 1st quarter, 11 in the 2nd and 13 in the 3rd. Sitting on 34 points, he handed the reins to Steph to bring it home in the 4th
• During Miami’s runs to The Finals in 2020 and 2023, Butler III played the Batman role full time. Playing alongside Curry in Golden State, Butler III gives the Warriors a Robin with Batman-level experience and ability

2. WARRIORS EDGE GRIZZLIES IN PLAY-IN THRILLER

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The Warriors missed their first chance to clinch a Playoff berth on Sunday, falling in overtime to the Clippers in the regular-season finale.

They entered Tuesday’s 7-vs-8 game in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament determined not to miss another opportunity to punch their Playoff ticket.

Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116: Jimmy Butler III scored 34 of his game-high 38 in the 1st three quarters, before Steph Curry took over in the 4th as the Warriors held off the Grizzlies to clinch the 7 seed in the Playoffs. | Recap

• After trailing 11-2 early, the Warriors outscored the Grizzlies 53-24 over the next 15 minutes spanning the 1st and 2nd quarters to take a 20-point lead – including a Steph and-1 that even amazed himself
• But the Grizzlies weren’t going down without a fight. They battled all the way back – a run that included Ja Morant going off the backboard to himself for a must-see move – to take the lead early in the 4th and set up a thrilling finish

• Ja Exits & Returns: Morant suffered a twisted ankle on an and-1 jumper with 4:25 left in the 3rd. He shot his free throw before leaving the game for treatment. He was hobbled, but returned with 9:26 left and gutted out the finish
• Frantic 4th: Neither team led by more than six points in the 4th, with the teams trading clutch buckets, including this perfectly-executed play for a Curry 3 to put the Warriors up five with 1:50 left
• Curry Again: After a Zach Edey dunk cut the lead to three, Curry delivered his 6th and final 3 of the game to push the lead back to six – after a triple pump fake
• Closing It Out: Memphis made five straight free throws to cut the lead to one with 14 seconds left, but a pair of Curry free throws and the Warriors forcing a five-second violation on a Grizzlies inbounds pass sealed the win

Grizz Trio: Desmond Bane (team-high 30), Morant (22) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (18) combined for 70 in the loss, while rookie Edey had a 14-point, 17-board double-double in his postseason debut.

• Up Next: Memphis hosts the winner of tonight’s Kings-Mavs game on Friday (9:30 ET, ESPN) with the 8 seed in the Playoffs on the line

Warriors-Rockets: Golden State will open its Playoff run on Sunday in Houston (9:30 ET, TNT) in the 2 vs. 7 series. The Warriors won the season series 3-2, including a 1-1 split since the Warriors added Butler III.

• Kerr On Clinching Tuesday: “We desperately needed to win this game and get four days [of rest].”
• Curry On The Win: “It was a rollercoaster ride to get there but we got a Playoff series. Let’s get to it. It’s what we asked for and we had to go earn it. It’s nice to win a Play-In game too.”

3. BENCH DUO LIFTS MAGIC PAST HAWKS FOR 7 SEED

Orlando’s star duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner was held to a combined 30 points on 35.7% shooting, including 0-for-8 from deep.

The Magic still won by 25 points.

How did they do it?

It was all about the Anthonys on Tuesday night in Orlando as Cole Anthony and Anthony Black stole the show off the bench to lead the Magic into the Playoffs as the 7 seed.

Magic 120, Hawks 95: Anthony (26 pts, 6 ast, 4 3pm), Black (16 pts, 3 3pm, 2 blk) and Wendell Carter Jr. (19 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk) combined for 61 points and were at the heart of two key runs that helped the Magic build their lead in the 1st quarter and then close it out in the 4th. | Recap

• Magic Strike: Led by Black’s 7 pts (3-3 FG), Orlando outscored Atlanta 18-2 in the final 6 minutes of the 1st quarter to build a 15-point lead. The Magic led by as many as 22 in the 2nd quarter and went into the half up 14
• Hawks Answer: Powered by Trae Young’s 12 pts (4-6 FG), Atlanta opened the 2nd half with a 21-10 run to cut the Magic lead to three with three minutes left in the 3rd
• Magic Slam The Door: After the Hawks made it a one-possession game, Anthony took over, scoring 17 down the stretch – while Black and Carter added seven apiece – as the Magic closed the game on a 49-27 push. | Anthonys with back-to-back buckets

Mike Ehrmann & Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Role Stars: With the bench leading the way, Banchero (17 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk) and Wagner (13 pts, 13 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk) did a bit of everything to make their marks on the game. | Paolo & Carter with back-to-back and-1s | Franz with the finish, Mo with the flex

• “I think ‘Dell was the biggest key to this game.” – Magic coach Jamahl Mosley on Carter’s physicality, toughness and rebounding setting the tone for Orlando
• Key Stats: Carter’s five offensive boards helped Orlando finish with a 26-15 edge in 2nd chance points, while Anthony and Black sparked the Magic to a 57-30 advantage in bench points

What’s Next: With the win, the Magic secure the 7 seed and will face the 2 seed Celtics in the 1st Round of the Playoffs. Game 1 is set for Sunday (3:30 ET, ABC).

• One More Chance: With the loss, the Hawks will host the winner of tonight’s Bulls-Heat on Friday (7 ET, TNT) with the 8 seed in the Playoffs on the line

4. WIN OR GO HOME: BULLS HOST HEAT (7:30 ET, ESPN)

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Tonight’s single-elimination games mean one thing: win or go home.

It starts in Chicago, where the winner of the Bulls-Heat 9 vs. 10 Play-In meeting advances to face the Hawks for the No. 8 seed, and the loser can close the book on their 2024-25 campaign.

Plenty of familiarity exists on this stage, as Chicago and Miami clashed in the Play-In Tournament during each of the previous two seasons. The Heat won both, now hunting a 6th consecutive Playoff berth and 3rd straight as the No. 8 seed.

The Bulls have their number as of late, though, owning the season series 3-0. Chicago is riding a 15-5 stretch into the postseason, including wins in six of its last seven.

• Driving Duo: Coby White and Josh Giddey willed Chicago into the Play-In with next-level play since the start of March. They averaged 20.4 and 14.6 ppg this season, respectively, but have bumped up those numbers to 26.0 and 20.4
• Blazing: After Zach LaVine was traded to Sacramento, White picked up the offensive slack, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March and joining Michael Jordan as the only Bulls with consecutive Player of the Week honors
• Doing It All: Giddey stepped up on both ends, putting up marks of 9.6 rpg and 9.0 apg to nearly average a triple-double in March. And he’s averaged a 26/10.3/10 triple-double against Miami in 2024-25

Brennan Asplen/Getty Images

None of their regular-season meetings were decided comfortably, as every margin of victory was in single digits. Their latest battle on April 9 ended up 119-111 in Chicago’s favor.

• Lighting The Fire: Tyler Herro’s game-high 30 points that night kept the Heat within striking distance despite all five Bulls starters dropping 15 or more. Herro’s scored at least 25 in seven of his 10 latest performances
• Herro Ball: The 6th-year guard earned his first All-Star selection this season while averaging a career-best 23.9 ppg and 5.5 apg
• Here Comes The Bam: In support of Herro’s career year, Bam Adebayo averaged 18.1 ppg and 9.6 rpg in his own right, establishing a productive partnership and readying themselves to attempt a Playoff run for the first time without Jimmy Butler III

5. WIN OR GO HOME: KINGS HOST MAVS (10 ET, ESPN)

Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Everything is on the line again for the nightcap. Whoever claims the Mavs’ and Kings’ 9 vs. 10 Play-In contest (10 ET, ESPN) will go against the Grizzlies with the No. 8 seed up for grabs, while the loser’s eliminated.

More than 20 years have passed since these two last met in the postseason. Current interim coach Doug Christie played for that Kings squad in 2003-04, ousting the Mavericks in the First Round.

Sacramento swept the series during this latest regular season, becoming the only team to solve the defending Western Conference champions thrice without surrendering a loss.

• Scorer Switcharoo: Sacramento dealt stalwart De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline, but brought in Zach LaVine to refuel the offense. His 23.3 ppg on a career-high 44.6% from 3, paired with DeMar DeRozan’s 22.2 ppg to lead the team in scoring
• Seeing Double: But the not-so-secret sauce for the Kings is Domantas Sabonis and his league-leading 13.9 rpg. He piled up 61 double-doubles in 70 regular-season games this season and boasts 203 in his last 231

Sam Hodde/Getty Images

But the Mavericks are getting healthier after injuries mounted down the stretch. They stayed afloat in the standings to earn the No. 10 seed despite going 8-17 in their last 25.

• Busy Bench: After trading Luka Dončić on Feb. 1 and losing Kyrie Irving to a torn ACL on March 3, Dallas endured multi-week injuries to Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II – often overlapping ones, at that
• On The Come Up: Gafford (12.3 ppg) and Lively (7.5 rpg) both made their returns earlier this month. Davis played in seven of the team’s last nine games – averaging 20.3 ppg & 9.9 rpg in that time
• Sharpshooter, Still: Klay Thompson, though, offered crucial reliability. His 72 starts in 2024-25 were his most since 2018-19, and he hit 200 3s for a 10th time in 12 seasons