The age of the diaper dandy is over. The time of the transfer has come, and Kentucky coach Mark Pope is willing to play the game John Calipari wasn't.
Warriors seeing clear road to success only the start for playoff run
Warriors seeing clear road to success only the start for playoff run originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors can exhale. For a full day, maybe two, having dispatched the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. And then, on Sunday evening, they will step onto the court in Houston and try to win a first-round playoff series against the Rockets.
The same Rockets that 10 days ago blasted the Warriors off the Chase Center floor. That outshot them, outrebounded them, forced 20 turnovers, punished them in the paint, plastered them with 26 fast-break points and wrestled Stephen Curry into three points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field.
Yet there is a serenity and confidence about the No. 7 seed Warriors. They believe they know the way to success against the second-seeded Rockets.
Much of that confidence comes from their collective faith in coach Steve Kerr and his staff. While the players are at ease Wednesday, the coaches will pore over video, craft a game plan and deliver it to them on Thursday.
One thing coaches and players know for certain: They must take care of the ball.
“We have to win the possession game against Houston for sure,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area Tuesday night after the play-in tournament win over Memphis. “And then they’re going to come after us with everything defensively. They’re going to play two bigs, with (Steven) Adams and (Alperen) Sengun.
“We like our chances. We’ve got counters for everything.”
This is why veterans like Draymond Green and Curry are bristling with kinetic energy. They’re like boxers freed from the arduous tedium of the gym – the regular season – and finally making their way to the place they want to be. The championship ring.
“I was just telling the guys the only thing I was thinking about earlier today was just I want the opportunity to go through that first film session that we go through, just our every series,” Green said. “It’s like no other. And I’ve been looking forward to that. It’s just a different level of preparation that you just … it’s impossible to get in the NBA. There’s just way too many games.
“But you get to the playoff series, and the level of preparation is so different. So, I’m looking forward to not tomorrow but the following day. He can have tomorrow. But that preparation, getting ready for a team that you know you got to see possibly seven times in a row, is so fun. It’s like no other.”
That 106-96 loss to Houston on April 6 was, the Warriors tell themselves, fool’s gold for the Rockets. As if a convincing win means nothing. Golden State’s veterans know regular-season results are irrelevant once the postseason begins.
It’s a completely different game, requiring a sharpened mentality and a profoundly advanced level of focus.
“The beauty of these (playoff) games is that every possession counts,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area. “And you know what? If you try to coach like this all year, it’s hard to implement everything during an 82-game season. If you approach every 48-minute game trying to hammer home how important everything is, you’ll just exhaust the guys after the quarter of the season. They won’t have anything left.
“What we’re really trying to do is build habits during the season. Then, if the habits are good, come playoff time you can commit and focus for 48 straight minutes and play a game where every possession matters.”
This is a familiar script to Golden State veterans. Curry has participated in 147 postseason games, Green in 157 and Kevon Looney in 77. Jimmy Butler III had appeared in 119 games, but his first as a Warrior comes Sunday. Kerr has played in 128 postseason games, coached another 140 in his first 10 seasons with the Warriors.
The playoffs are, for these folks, their comfort zone. A psychological living room.
“It is just attention to detail,” Curry said late Tuesday night. “You just flip the book on Houston and their patterns. You want to truly understand, a ‘know them better than they know themselves’ kind of vibe. Just be as prepared as possible. It’s fun because you have everybody locked in.
“What we enjoy about playoff series is it’s just one opponent, and it’s a chess match from before the first game and in between every game, just trying to find the subtle changes or game plan or discipline that can help just win four games.”
The Warriors, players and coaches, seem to believe the key to winning this series lies in ball security because that inhibits Houston’s transition game, which was fueled by turnovers 10 days ago. The analytics show the Rockets’ offense is much tamer when playing against set defense.
Knowing how to contain an opponent is one thing. That’ll be in the game plan. It’s the execute that’s more difficult and will dictate the difference between success and failure.
No question, though, the Warriors have more postseason soldiers than the Rockets.
“This is what we do,” Kerr said at the postgame podium. “I mean, this is so fun. This is the best time of the year. You know, this is Year 11. My favorite – maybe my favorite – day of the season is (Wednesday). We come in as a staff, we look at Houston tape. We start to put together our game plan. The players are resting. We’ve got a couple of days before we’ll see the players again.
“We get to go to work and try to beat a great team in a seven-game series. There’s nothing better. So, I can’t wait.”
The players can wait, particularly super vets Curry, Butler and Green. Mostly to treat their aches and catch their breath before beginning what they hope will be a trek that takes them into June.
Playoff Jimmy Butler scores 38, Stephen Curry adds 37, Warriors beat Grizzlies to grab No. 7 seed
Apr 15, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) and guard Stephen Curry (30) meet after a play against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Playoff Jimmy — or, should we say Play-in Jimmy — is back.
Jimmy Butler III scored 38 points, got to the free-throw line 18 times, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out five assists — and the Warriors needed all of that on a night their offense was sluggish much of the game. Then in the clutch, Golden State got a couple of key Stephen Curry 3-pointers and hung on to beat the Grizzlies 104-101.
38 FOR JIMMY BUTLER III.
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2025
37 FOR STEPHEN CURRY.
WARRIORS TAKE THE WEST'S #7 SEED pic.twitter.com/g7Za1dT8ap
That win officially advances the Warriors as the No. 7 seed in the West, and they will travel to Houston to face the Rockets in the first round, starting Sunday (a series that will be very evenly matched). Memphis will head home and prepare for Friday, when it will face the winner of Wednesday’s Dallas/Sacramento game in a fight for the No. 8 seed.
This was the kind of game that is a reminder of why the Warriors will be such a tough out. That starts with Playoff Jimmy, who just takes some of the offensive pressure off Curry.
“I know I want to win a championship so he needs, his what, this would be No. 5?” Butler said, via the Associated Press.
From the opening tip, Butler went right at the Grizzlies' anchor, 7’4” Zach Edey. When Edey played off him early, Butler drained a couple of 3-pointers right over him. That brought Edey out, and Butler started going downhill, getting past him, into the paint, and drawing fouls.
Beyond Butler, other Warriors stepped up, including Gary Payton II and Quinten Post off the bench. And, as always, in the clutch there was Curry doing Curry things.
STEPH AGAIN pic.twitter.com/N4Mv1ERquJ
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2025
After a fast 11-2 start to the game by the Grizzlies, the Warriors settled down and did a good job keeping Memphis out of the paint. The Warriors' defense held the Grizzlies to 38.7% shooting for a quarter and a half, then used those misses and a bunch of turnovers to get buckets in transition, force cross-matches early in the clock, and essentially get whatever they wanted on offense. Which is why they led by 20.
Give the Grizzlies credit, they fought back and showed real grit — they took the lead in the fourth quarter and made it a one-point game inside of 10 seconds left. Desmond Bane led the way with 30 for Memphis including hitting five 3-pointers, Ja Morant scored 22 and returned to play the fourth quarter despite turning his ankle in the third quarter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points. While picked on defensively, Edey finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and was a +6 for the game.
When it got to the clutch, the Warriors simply executed better. Stephen Curry helps with that, but so does the player and organizational experience.
That experience is what makes the Warriors a threat against a young Rockets team.
“It took 83 games but we’re right where we want to be, which is back in the playoffs and we’ve got a chance,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Magic and Warriors seal NBA play-off spots
The Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic secured their places in the first round of the NBA play-offs with victories in the Conference play-in games.
Jimmy Butler III scored 38 points and Stephen Curry 37 as the Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 at Chase Center in San Francisco to progress as the Western Conference seventh seeds.
"I'm telling you, that's a Batman if I've ever seen a Batman - always coming to save the day," Butler said of Curry.
"You're never out of any game. He's so poised, so calm and he was a huge part of getting us the victory."
In the East, Cole Anthony scored 26 points off the bench as the Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at Kia Center in Orlando.
The Warriors will meet the Houston Rockets in the play-offs and the Magic will face the Boston Celtics, with game one of their best-of-seven series scheduled for Sunday.
The Grizzlies have a second chance to reach the play-offs when they play the winner of Wednesday's game between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.
The Hawks face the Sacramento Kings or the Dallas Mavericks for the right to progress in the West.
Celtics playoff schedule: Dates, times for Round 1 series vs. Magic
Celtics playoff schedule: Dates, times for Round 1 series vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The NBA has released dates and times for all first-round series, including the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics’ matchup with the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic. That series is set to begin Sunday, April 20, at 3:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden.
The Magic secured the No. 7 seed by beating the Atlanta Hawks in Tuesday’s 7-8 matchup of the NBA tournament, while the Celtics cruised to the No. 2 seed with a 61-21 record, winning 60-plus games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009.
Boston is looking to become the first NBA team to win back-to-back championships since the 2018 Golden State Warriors, and the first Celtics team to repeat since 1969. The C’s won 15 of 18 games last postseason to steamroll to their 18th title.
Here’s a look at the Celtics’ full first-round schedule, with tip-off times already set for Games 1through 4. Games 2 through 6 will all air on NBC Sports Boston, with play-by-play announcer Drew Carter on the call alongside color analyst Brian Scalabrine.
NBC Sports Boston will have coverage of every game an hour before tip-off with Celtics Pregame Live, as well as postgame coverage immediately after the game with Celtics Postgame Live.
- Game 1: Magic vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 20 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 2: Magic vs. Celtics; Wednesday, April 23 (7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Boston)
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic; Friday, April 25 (7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Boston)
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic; Sunday, April 27 (7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Boston)
- Game 5: Magic vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 29 (TBD, NBC Sports Boston)*
- Game 6: Celtics at Magic; Thursday, May 1 (TBD, NBC Sports Boston)*
- Game 7: Magic vs. Celtics; Saturday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)*
*If necessary
Anthony, Magic claim 7th seed with 120-95 win over Hawks in Play-In Tournament
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Cole Anthony came off the bench with 26 points and six assists to lead the Orlando Magic to a 120-95 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night in the first game of the Play-In Tournament.
Paolo Banchero had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Magic, and Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Black scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting off the bench in the Magic’s first appearance in a play-in game.
Earning the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed after a 41-41 regular season, the Magic will start their first-round playoff series at Boston on Sunday. Orlando split its four games against the defending NBA champs this season, but the Celtics rested their top six players in a loss at Orlando last week.
“It’s a great opportunity to play against the best team in the league, and they’re the champs still until somebody beats 'em,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “What they present is a lot of challenges, and we have to try to find a way to figure that out.”
Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points and six assists before getting two technical fouls and an automatic ejection with 4:47 left in the game.
“I thought we did a good job on Paolo and Franz (Wagner),” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder, “and they had some other players who really stepped up and made plays.”
The Hawks, who have reached the playoffs through the play-in route in two of the last three seasons, will play at home Friday night for the eighth spot against the winner of Wednesday night’s game at Chicago between the Bulls and the Miami Heat.
Banchero and Black produced most of the offense and the Hawks scored just two points in the final 6 minutes of the first quarter, and the Magic led by as many as 22 late in the first half.
The Hawks cut the gap to three and had a chance to tied the game when they turned it over with 2:36 left in the third quarter.
“They went on their own run and we weathered the storm. We didn’t let them back in the game from that point on,” Anthony said. “We got stops, we pushed the pace and we held a really good offensive team to 90 points.”
Anthony, who averaged 9.4 points in an injury-plagued season, made 10-of-17 shots including 4 -of-9 3-pointers.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Mavericks' GM Nico Harrison, 'There's no regrets on the trade'
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison met with a very limited, hand-selected number of Dallas media on Tuesday (much to the surprise of a lot of media members who regularly cover the team). Harrison repeatedly defended his shocking February decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers, using the phrase "defense wins championships" repeatedly during the session, according to multiple reports. Here are some quotes from the meeting, via Tim MacMahon at ESPN, Christian Clark at The Athletic, and Tim Cato.
"There's no regrets on the trade," said Harrison... "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future, and some of the decisions I'm going to make are going to be unpopular. That's my job, and I have to stand by it."
Nico: "My obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks, it's what's the best interest of the Dallas Mavericks, and that's the most important thing. Some of those decisions are going to be unpopular maybe to Dirk and maybe to the fans, but my obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks."
— tim cato (@tim_cato) April 15, 2025
“When you look at this trade, we targeted A.D. with our philosophy of defense wins championships," Harrison said. "We wanted a two-way player to lead our team, and that was Anthony Davis. Everybody's going to have their critics. … But we got what we wanted... The team post-trade that was intended to be on the floor … that's a championship-caliber team. You guys were able to see it for 2 1/2 quarters. Unfortunately, that's a small sample size."
Mavericks fans are not going to get to see that team for most or all of next season as Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. Any debate about whether this is really a championship-caliber team is on hold for the foreseeable future.
Harrison is correct that a GM should trust his instincts and convictions, and not hesitate to make what he sees as a move that betters the franchise. However, when others are waving red flags about the trade, a smart GM puts aside his ego and thinks from outside his perspective. In this trade, one red flag is that, as highly as one might think of Anthony Davis (and he had an All-NBA season before injuries limited his game), he is six years older than Doncic — trading stars to get that much older is not wise. The other major red flag is this: If you're keeping this trade under wraps because you know there will be massive fan backlash to the idea, maybe enough to kill the trade, is this really a wise trade? Not just from a basketball sense but from a fan sense — the NBA is an entertainment business, angering the people who are fans and pay for your product is just not smart.
Harrison is convinced he will be vindicated with this trade in time. At least he doesn't have to worry about people forgetting this trade and not wanting to talk about it. For now, he can watch Anthony Davis and the Mavericks in the play-in Wednesday night while Luka Doncic and the No. 3 seed Lakers rest, waiting for their first game of the playoffs on Saturday evening.
Warriors set to unleash ‘different' Playoff Jimmy Butler against Rockets
Warriors set to unleash ‘different' Playoff Jimmy Butler against Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The world around us begs for stress, anxiety and far too many worries. Smiles and laughs feel secondary at the moment. A basketball exercise that’s sure to bring both takes almost no time and is meant for all ages.
Fire up Basketball Reference and type in your favorite player. Below their complete name – first, middle and last – are nicknames for players. Some are known worldwide, others have never even been heard by the player.
Threezus. Yeah, that’s apparently Steph Curry. The Dancing Bear. Don’t call Draymond Green that, but it’s included in his list of nicknames as well.
Ever since the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler, two words have been brought up over and over again for a team eyeing their fifth championship during this dynastic run, and a player looking for his first ring after two trips to the NBA Finals that fell short with his previous team.
“He different, that guy,” Green said, his eyes lighting up at the sound of Butler’s nickname. “He’s different. You can just see a whole different intensity level and focus. I’m a basketball fan, you know, so I’ve watched it on TV for years. To see it up close and personal, like it’s a real thing. Sometimes you get in the NBA and these guys get these nicknames and you’re like, man, stop it. There’s some other nicknames out there, they not real.
“That one’s real. And I’m happy he’s on our side.”
Butler’s game is built on consistently making the right plays, often deferring to teammates. He isn’t going to force shots or toss up heat checks. Golden State was given another star alongside Curry upon Butler’s arrival, but that didn’t mean scoring barrages came in bunches.
Until the right time came.
The Warriors needed Game 83 to punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs, beating the Memphis Grizzlies in a fight to the very end, 121-116, Tuesday night at Chase Center in a play-in tournament matchup that decided the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. When reminded of Butler’s Playoff Jimmy moniker, Gary Payton II pulled out something else from his Basketball Reference page.
“Jimmy Buckets,” Payton said. “Give him the ball. Go where he tells you to go, and sit and wait until Jimmy needs help, or he’s going to score or get fouled.”
Knowing the importance of fast starts and having the ultimate closer at his disposal in Curry, Butler scored 10 points in the first quarter for the second straight game. With a 7-foot-4 rookie center Zach Edey sagging off him, Butler hit two threes in the first quarter and calculated in real time how to either take advantage of extra space or maneuver his way closer to the basket, pressing all the right buttons of the computer that buzzes inside his head. That also led to his second straight game of 20 shot attempts.
And it also resulted in his second straight 30-point game.
Butler had scored 30 points just once since joining the Warriors, which happened to be Sunday’s regular-season finale – an overtime loss against the LA Clippers. He was up to 21 points at halftime Tuesday, which turned to 34 through three quarters and a season-high 38 on 12-of-20 shooting when it was all said and done.
The 35-year-old scored twice behind the 3-point line, climbed the ladder for multiple dunks and a tip shot, delivered a 15-foot jumper for his only made shot in the fourth quarter, and, of course, racked up frequent flyer miles at the free-throw line. Butler attempted a season-high 18 free throws and made 12, a number far too low for his standards.
“At the end of the day, you need somebody that can put the ball in the basket, and he knows how to do that,” Curry said. “We have to keep doing all of our parts, and you know, Playoff Jimmy will hopefully be a big unlock for us.”
Beating the Grizzlies means a series with the young, long, athletic and ultra-physical Houston Rockets. Butler, in his final three games to end the regular season, plus Tuesday’s play-in game, scored 28, 24, 30 and 38 points. He dropped just 13 in a loss to the Rockets a week and a half ago.
There won’t be a lumbering rookie guarding him, but doses of Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks and others trying to play in the rough-and-rowdy image of coach Ime Udoka. Butler’s message to his first opponent in the way of him and the Warriors’ path towards a championship? Bring it on, all of it.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and see how I can be effective on the offensive side of the ball,” Butler said. “But I really believe I can score with the best of them. I don’t care who I’m lined up against.”
That loss is long gone to the mind of a winner. The calendar has turned its pages to Playoff Jimmy time.
‘Playoff guy' GP2 ready to answer Warriors' postseason call
‘Playoff guy' GP2 ready to answer Warriors' postseason call originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – As critical as it is for teams to get big games from their superstar players, in order to get deep into the NBA playoffs, it’s equally important to get steady and solid production from the backups.
That was the formula that played out nicely in the Warriors’ 121-116 play-in victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Jimmy Butler was in complete Playoff Jimmy mode and poured in a season-high 38 points while Stephen Curry shrugged off a slow start and finished with 37 points.
A deeper dive into the game, however, shows that while those two paved the way for Golden State, it was players like Gary Payton II and Quinten Post who held it down during critical moments.
Payton scored 12 points and made one of the game’s biggest plays when he snuck up from behind and blocked a shot attempt by Grizzlies’ 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey.
Post, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft who has been a revelation as a perimeter shooter, added 11 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes and combined with Payton and Jimmy Butler to limit Edey’s output. He grabbed 17 rebounds and scored 14 points albeit on 4-of-11 shooting.
For Post it was a satisfying night considering it was his first taste of a postseason atmosphere.
For Payton, it was basically another night at the office where the scrappy guard was all over the court diving for loose balls, going chest-to-chest with opposing players and doing whatever he could to make a difference.
“This is time,” Payton said. “You lead up all year to get to this moment. I’m more of a playoff guy … so when it’s that time of year, lock in and get right and try to be as efficient as I can.”
Payton has been very efficient almost from the moment he joined the Warriors.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr was very outspoken about Payton’s impact with the Warriors, specifically pointing out the impact that GPII had when the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals.
“We don’t win that championship in (2022) without Gary,” Kerr said. “He’s a big-time player, playoff performer, two-way player. Understands how to play with Steph probably as well as anybody on our team. He’s basically a power forward on offense and a point guard on defense. Very unique player.”
Butler, who was a one-man wrecking crew for most of the game against Memphis, took it a step further and said Payton will definitely be a key factor in the upcoming playoffs.
“He’s going to be a reason that we win a couple games in the playoffs,” Butler said. “But what I love most about GP is he makes sure everybody’s calm. He lets everybody know, ‘We’re going to be just fine. We just have to get a stop, get a bucket. We got to execute.’
“He’ll take and make some big shots (and) for sure he’ll get a big-time dunk to get the crowd into the game and then guard whoever you ask him to guard.”
Payton realizes, too, that the Warriors bench will have to keep producing if the Blue and Gold are going to reach their final destination.
“We know what’s at stake,” he said. “In a regular normal series, you got two games (that) your superstars are going to win for you. You got another game that the bench is going to win for you, and then the third is probably execution. We do our part and we know that Wardell, Jimmy and (Draymond Green) are going to do their part.
“So as much as we can take the load off them and they come in and do what they normally do, it just gives us extra bump, extra run that we have later in the game.”
Butler uses ‘hellified' superhero analogy for Steph's big play-in game
Butler uses ‘hellified' superhero analogy for Steph's big play-in game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Every Batman needs his Robin.
That’s exactly who Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler were in the Warriors’ 121-116 NBA play-in win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at Chase Center — and Butler made sure everyone knew it.
“That we got a hellified Batman in Steph,” Butler told NBA on TNT’s Allie LaForce after the win of what gave him the confidence Golden State would pull it off. “And we just got a group of guys that got a lot of fight and never give up, and we did what we were supposed to do finally.”
"That's a Batman if I've ever seen a Batman. Always coming to save the day" 👏@ALaForce with Jimmy Butler who had high praise for Steph after another clutch performance 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RxvzGq70lj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 16, 2025
Butler scored a game-high 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range while also sinking 12 free throws on a season-high 18 attempts in the victory. Curry was right behind Butler with 37 points, 15 of which came in a fourth-quarter takeover that secured the Warriors’ first-ever play-in win and pushed them to the NBA playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed.
STEPH AGAIN 🔥pic.twitter.com/N4Mv1ERquJ
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2025
There’s no one like Curry, and Butler is well aware. The Chef is the Bay Area’s very own superhero — and now he has the perfect sidekick.
“I think any team has a chance with me on it,” Butler told reporters at the postgame podium. “But I know every team has a chance with Steph on it. I get to play Robin. That’s my Batman.”
Full Warriors vs. Rockets schedule released for first-round NBA playoff series
Full Warriors vs. Rockets schedule released for first-round NBA playoff series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors escaped the NBA play-in tournament and will face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round Western Conference playoff series beginning Sunday night.
Shortly after Golden State held off the scrappy Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night at Chase Center, the NBA released the full schedule for the Warriors-Rockets series:
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 — Golden State at Houston — 6:30 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area
Game 2: Wednesday, April 23 — Golden State at Houston — 6:30 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area
Game 3: Saturday, April 26 — Houston at Golden State — 5:30 p.m. PT — ABC
Game 4: Monday, April 28 — Houston at Golden State — 7:00 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 30 — Golden State at Houston — Time TBD — TV TBD
Game 6*: Friday, May 2 — Houston at Golden State — Time TBD — TV TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, May 4 — Golden State at Houston — Time TBD — TV TBD
The Warriors won three of the five regular-season matchups against the Rockets.
In the last contest on April 6 in San Francisco, the Rockets assigned second-year guard Amen Thompson to guard Steph Curry, which worked. Golden State’s star was held to 1-of-10 shooting and finished with three points in a 106-96 loss to Houston.
The winner of the Warriors-Rockets series will face the victor of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Los Angeles Lakers series.
This will be the fifth playoff series all-time between the Warriors and Rockets, with the teams meeting in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Golden State has won all four previous series against Houston.
The Warriors will need the best from Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green if they want to pull off the upset over the No. 2-seeded Rockets.
What we learned as Warriors outlast Grizzlies to reach NBA playoffs
What we learned as Warriors outlast Grizzlies to reach NBA playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Jumping on the backs of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are headed to the NBA playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed to face the Houston Rockets.
Once ahead by 20 points, the Warriors were outscored by nine points in the third quarter and lost their lead early in the fourth. But behind a Curry flurry in the final few minutes, the Warriors broke their NBA play-in tournament losing streak and took down the Memphis Grizzlies in epic fashion Tuesday night at Chase Center, 121-116.
Curry’s clutch gene was on full display, scoring 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter. He splashed two threes in the final two minutes, and also made four free throws in the final five seconds left to close out the win. Curry was just 9 of 22 from the field, but went 6 of 13 on threes, 13 of 13 on free throws, and also had eight rebounds, four assists and a steal.
STEPH AGAIN 🔥pic.twitter.com/N4Mv1ERquJ
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2025
This was yet another night showcasing how Butler completely changed the Warriors’ season. Butler scored a season-high 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting. The do-it-all veteran was a man on a mission, also providing seven rebounds, six assists and three steals to go with a season-high 18 free-throw attempts and 12 makes.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ play-in win over the Grizzlies.
Play-In Jimmy
When Butler found himself in the play-in tournament as a member of the Miami Heat last season, he scored 19 points and added four rebounds, five assists and five steals, but sustained a sprained right MCL that kept him out for the remainder of the postseason. While the Warriors didn’t have any play-in tournament success coming into the night, Butler sure did.
That same success followed him to the Bay Area, too.
It was as if Butler saw every inch of the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and made it his personal mission to show the rookie what big games are all about. Edey dared Butler to shoot behind the 3-point line, and he drained both his treys in the first quarter. He went at him, too. Butler in the first quarter alone had 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Butler was the leading scorer in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting. His only miscues were missing three free throws. His first 30-point game with the Warriors came in the last game of the regular season. Through three quarters Tuesday, Butler was up to 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Whether it’s the play-in tournament or the playoffs, the Warriors know Butler also will be ready for the big stage.
Winning The Battles
In the final regular-season game, the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers needed five more minutes of basketball to decide which team would advance straight to the playoffs or need at least one play-in tournament game before moving on. After their loss, the Warriors didn’t point to huge performances from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, as well as Ivica Zubac. The game was decided by the small details.
Always at a size disadvantage, the Warriors weren’t just crushed on the glass but they were late to loose balls. That’s an aspect of the game Golden State typically thrives in. So does Memphis.
Both teams averaged 5.4 loose balls per game during the regular season, ranking second in the NBA. The Warriors grabbed a grand total of 440 loose balls, and the Grizzlies grabbed 441.
While the Warriors were outrebounded 50-39 on Tuesday, Golden State swiped nine more steals than Memphis – 13-4. The Warriors also had three blocks, and the much bigger Grizzlies only had one. Each team had 11 fastbreak points, and the Grizzlies scored 48 points in the paint compared to the Warriors’ 42.
The activity and effort by the Warriors can’t be questioned.
The Other Guys
The stars always were going to garner the headlines and spotlight, and likely determine the outcome. But neither team could rely on one, two or even five players. The Warriors’ bench ranked third in points per game in the regular season, and the Grizzlies were second. To earn a trip to Houston, Golden State’s reserves were downright better.
What first made the night flip in the Warriors’ favor was Gary Payton II and Quinten Post entering the game. Payton and Post accounted for the Warriors’ first eight points upon coming off the bench. Payton’s quickness proved to be an asset offensively and defensively, and Post, a 25-year-old rookie, wasn’t afraid of the bright lights.
Post made three first-half 3-pointers and was a game-high plus-16 through the first two quarters. In one sequence, he defended an Edey dunk attempt and then nailed a three at the other end to the delight of Dub Nation.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr went with a nine-man rotation Sunday in the regular-season finale. On Tuesday, he turned to 10 players, adding Gui Santos to the mix. Almost immediately, Santos grabbed an offensive rebound, got the crowd fired up and converted a three-point play.
The Warriors wound up with 30 points off the bench, seven more than the Grizzlies’ 23. However, the Warriors will need much better shooting performances out of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski moving forward. As Curry and Butler scored a combined 75 points, Moody (nine) and Podziemski (three) had 12, and were 2 of 9 from deep.
Celtics vs. Magic first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction
Celtics vs. Magic first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
For the first time in 15 years, the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic will meet in the NBA playoffs.
The previous postseason matchup was the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, when the Celtics’ “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen defeated Dwight Howard’s Magic in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.
Now the Celtics and Magic are meeting in the first round. The C’s are the defending champions, and the Magic are a young team hoping to secure their first signature playoff triumph as a group.
The Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 61-21 record, while the Magic secured the No. 7 seed with a 41-41 record and a win over the Atlanta Hawks in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Tuesday night.
These teams played three times in the regular season, and the Magic won twice. However, Jayson Tatum didn’t play for the Celtics in their two losses, and one of those defeats happened last week when Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all were sidelined.
In the only head-to-head matchup that Boston did have its full starting lineup, the C’s won by 26 points.
Four of the Celtics’ last five first-round series were won in a sweep or just five games. Do the Magic have any chance of making this a long series?
Check out our full Celtics-Magic preview below:
Series schedule
- Game 1: Sunday, April 20 (TBD)
- Game 2: TBD
- Game 3: TBD
- Game 4: TBD
- Game 5: TBD*
- Game 6: TBD*
- Game 7: TBD*
*If necessary
Regular season head-to-head
Dec. 23 at Orlando: Magic 108, Celtics 104
Jan. 17 at Boston: Celtics 121, Magic 94
April 9 at Orlando: Magic 96, Celtics 76
Celtics vs. Magic stats comparison
Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Orlando’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2024-25 season. The Magic boast the NBA’s No. 1 scoring defense but rank near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories.
The Celtics will win the series if…
They continue to hit a high percentage of 3-point shots.
The Magic ranked No. 1 in defensive rating and have a lot of size and length on that end of the floor. However, their opponents shot 36.5 percent from 3-point range in the regular season, which ranked 23rd in the league.
It’s hard to envision a scenario where the Celtics lose the series if they shoot 36.5 percent or better from 3-point range, especially when the Magic have struggled offensively all season.
In fact, the C’s shot 36.5 percent or better from beyond the arc in 43 games this season and won 37 of them.
In the one game that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both played against the Magic this season, the C’s shot 45.9 percent (17-for-37) from 3-point range in a 26-point victory.
Boston set many 3-point records this season, including the most 3-pointers made and attempted by a team in a single season. Orlando has to guard the 3-point line at an elite level or it will have no chance to pull off the upset.
Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesJayson Tatum led the Celtics in total points, assists, rebounds and steals this season.
The Magic will win the series if…
They improve in the clutch.
The Magic were not a good team in the clutch this season. The league defines clutch situations as the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime and the score within five points.
In those situations, the Magic ranked 28th in points per game, 24th in field goal percentage and 30th in 3-point percentage. The Magic are a young, inexperienced team. The Celtics are the opposite — their players know what it’s like to compete in high-pressure playoff moments.
If the Magic want a chance to win the series, they’ll probably have to win a few close games. They haven’t shown an ability to win those nailbiters at this stage of their development.
Odds
The Celtics are huge favorites to beat the Magic.
- Celtics to win the series: -6000
- Magic to win the series: +1600
Prediction
Celtics in four.
Boston has too much firepower and experience for the young Magic. Injuries and poor 3-point shooting are the only factors that could push this series to six or seven games.
The Celtics have been waiting for the playoffs all season. These players are eager to prove they are still the best team in the league and capable of repeating as champs. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Celtics make quick work of the Magic and send a message that the road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy still runs through Boston.
'We are here': Tyronn Lue knew the Clippers could exceed expectations
Tyronn Lue glided into the Clippers’ postgame interview room on Sunday afternoon and clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped again. He beamed as his head bobbed up and down.
His Clippers squad had just qualified for the Western Conference playoffs, doing so in the last regular-season game with a win over the Golden State Warriors, who were also seeking a playoff berth while playing at home in the Chase Center.
The Clippers had defied the preseason odds of being a playoff participant. Lue refused during the season to let his group think otherwise and now they will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round starting Saturday at Ball Arena.
“They counted me out. They counted us out,” Lue said. “I know they did. I know it. But we are here.”
In that moment, there was a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from Lue and the Clippers because they had exceeded expectations and finished in the fifth spot in the NBA's competitive Western Conference.
At best, the Clippers were viewed by the critics when the season started as a possible play-in team and even then likely fighting for a nine or 10 spot.
Read more:How do the Clippers match up against the Nuggets entering their playoff series?
They were not going to have Kawhi Leonard to start the season because he was recovering from a right knee injury that eventually led the former All-Star forward to miss the first 34 games.
They were not going to have former All-Star forward Paul George anymore because he took the money from the 76ers and bolted to Philadelphia.
They were the Clippers' best players, and with Leonard injured and George gone, many were skeptical about this team.
But the Clippers finished tied with the Lakers and Nuggets at 50-32, a record few could have predicted.
“I think our group has been playing with a chip on its shoulders all year because of that,” Lue said. “We just found ways to win. We just found ways to win. No matter whose night it was, we just kind of featured that guy, played hard defensively and competed and we played together. … Being counted out and staying the course and playing with that chip on your shoulder all year long.”
Inside the Clippers' locker room after the win in San Francisco, Leonard and All-Star guard James Harden were two of the last players to leave the shower. The team’s two stars and leaders stood side-by-side talking, smiling and looking at their teammates knowingly.
On one side of the locker room, center Ivica Zubac and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic sat next to each other watching the Masters golf tournament on TV while drinking a beer.
On another side, guard Norman Powell and defensive ace Kris Dunn talked about the Clippers reaching this point and what it took.
But of them all, Leonard had come the farthest.
He played in just 37 games and just one set of back-to-back games. But as the season progressed, Leonard got stronger and stronger.
It all culminated over the weekend, when Leonard played 42 minutes against the Kings in Sacramento on Friday night and then a season-high 47 minutes against the Warriors on Sunday. He tied his season high in points with 33 against the Warriors.
His knee injury no longer is a subject.
“I’m happy that I have a great organization behind me to allow me to get healthy and know exactly what I need to do,” Leonard said. “Them letting me reach out to outside sources and combining them together and collaborating. Like I said, it’s not over yet. We still got a playoff series to try to win and just want to keep going from there. Like I said, have a good playoffs and a healthy offseason and just keep going.”
Even Lue missed games because of back pain, but the Clippers went 4-1 during his absence, the coaching staff led by assistant coach Brian Shaw keeping the train moving.
The Clippers saw Harden shine by averaging 22.8 points and 8.7 assists, the latter statistic fifth best in the NBA.
Powell averaged a career-best 21.8 points per game while Zubac averaged career highs in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6) and assists (2.7).
So the Clippers have found solace in proving their doubters wrong.
“We’re human. We know what’s being said about us, what’s being put out there,” Powell said. “TLue, he’s been through it, the ups and downs. People not wanting him here. People upset with what he was doing. Not being able to have a full healthy roster the previous seasons and not having big aspirations of winning a championship.
"Especially this year, nobody had us having 50 wins, being top five right now going to the playoffs. So, to knock that off and have people kind of backtrack and figure out what this team is all about now, it’s a lot of fun. We’re super-competitive. It’s happening. Fifty wins is big-time.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Warriors vs. Rockets first-round NBA playoff series set after Golden State's win
Warriors vs. Rockets first-round NBA playoff series set after Golden State's win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors exorcised their NBA play-in demons, and now they are headed to Houston for a first-round playoff series with the Rockets.
Golden State held off the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in a thriller on Tuesday at Chase Center, advancing out of the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Game 1 between the Warriors and Rockets will occur at 6:30 p.m. PT on Sunday at Toyota Center.
Here’s the full schedule for the Warriors-Rockets series:
Jimmy Butler led the way with 38 points for the Warriors, who won their first play-in game in the event’s brief six-year history.
Steph Curry finished with 37 points, while Gary Payton II finished with 12 and Moses Moody scored nine. Draymond Green had four points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who sprained his right ankle midway through the third quarter and returned early in the fourth quarter, scored 22 points, while forward Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points.
The Warriors won’t be intimidated by the No. 2-seeded Rockets, as Golden State won three of the five regular-season matchups.
But in the last contest on April 6 in San Francisco, the Rockets assigned second-year guard Amen Thompson to guard Curry, which worked. Golden State’s star was held to 1-of-10 shooting and finished with three points in a 106-96 loss to Houston.
The Warriors and Rockets have a recent history of playoff battles, but those heated series feel like a lifetime ago.
This version of the Rockets is young, feisty and full of potential.
But Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are determined to win an NBA title this year, and their journey toward that goal begins Sunday in Houston.