Dubs Hold Off Grizzlies, 121-116 to Clinch #7 Playoff Spot in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2025
A day after failing in their bid for an automatic playoff berth against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors came back to its home floor and won their play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 to clinch the seventh seed in the West.
Previously just going 1-3 in their last four games at the Chase, the Dubs were determined not to lose again and relive the memory of their upset three points defeat to Memphis in the 2021 play-in.
Again Jimmy Butler led the Warriors offense hitting 38 points but it was Stephen Curry who secured the win by scoring the last four of his 37 points on the free throw line in the dying seconds of the game after Grizzlies seven foot center Zach Edey cut the Dubs lead to just one, 117-116.
Desmond Banes, the hero of the Grizzlies 2021 victory over the Warriors, eventually spearheaded Memphis scoring with 30 points after team star Ja Morant suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter. Morant finished with 22 points backed by Jaret Jackson Jr with 18 points.
But more than those three, the Grizzlies who really kept the game close and had Dubs coach Steve Kerr worried especially in the final two quarters, were the seven foot pair of Edey and Santi Aldama.
The Grizzlies' twin towers were dominating the painted area especially Edey who pulled down a game high 17 rebounds on top of 14 points prompting Kerr to reinforce his small ball rotation alternatingly with seven footers Kevon Looney and Quentin Post.
With Looney and Post playing the post, starting center Draymond Green switched to the forward position where he made his damage putting up screens and issuing a game high 10 assists that benefited Butler, Curry and Garry Payton II. Green with Curry and Butler also helped in clearing the glass while defending against Banes.
The seven foot Dutch center Post contributed 11 points aside from holding off Edey.
As #7 seed, Golden State will meet #2 Houston Rockets in the best of seven first round in the Western Conference playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies get another chance to make it to the post-season against the winner of the play-in match between #9 Sacramento Kings and #10 Dallas Mavericks tomorrow.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025