The Golden State Warriors are once again facing the brutal path of the NBA play-in tournament, and this time, they’re hoping Jimmy Butler’s experience can guide them through.
The Warriors fell to the LA Clippers 124-119 in a dramatic overtime loss on Sunday, April 13, failing to secure a direct playoff spot. Now, they must regroup quickly to face the Memphis Grizzlies in a must-win play-in showdown on Tuesday night (April 15).
But this time, the Warriors has something they didn’t before: Jimmy Butler III. Stephen Curry hoped that this could make a difference.
Jimmy Butler’s Play-In Resume Gives Curry and the Warriors New Hope
Golden State’s history in the play-in is brutal, and Curry knows firsthand how cruel the format can be. He’s felt the sting of LeBron James’ clutch shot in 2021, Ja Morant’s breakout against them, and last year’s blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings. But with Butler now in the fold, the two-time MVP sees a new kind of hope.
In 2023, Butler dragged the Miami Heat from the brink. After losing their first play-in game, he dropped 31 on the Chicago Bulls to keep the dream alive—and didn’t stop until the Finals. That kind of grit is exactly what the Warriors are counting on now.
Curry’s been through this too many times not to remember every detail. And he’s hoping Butler’s presence can change things this year.
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“We joked about that last week,” Steph said postgame with a smile. “He went into the play-in packing for two months… We haven’t had a good outcome in the three [play-in] games. I remember each one vividly.”
“[LeBron James] hit that shot in the right wing. Ja [Morant] hits a couple tough buckets. And we washed the Sacramento game down the drain pretty quick. So just win.”
“We joked about that last week. He (Jimmy) went into the play-in packing for two months, so we would love to have that opportunity. What we can learn is we need to win. We haven’t had a good outcome (in play-in).”
Steph on what they can learn from Jimmy’s successful play-in… pic.twitter.com/aHNQJDljfN
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 14, 2025
Curry had a rocky start against the Clippers—just 15 points through three quarters. But when the game hit crunch time, he turned it on. The fourth quarter belonged to him. He finished with 36 points, six assists, and three rebounds, nearly bringing the Warriors across the finish line.
But it was Butler who set the tone early, cool, composed, and in control like always. He dropped 24 before the final frame and finished with 30 points, nine assists, and a quiet fire that kept the Warriors in it.
After Curry, Draymond Green is Buying the Butler Effect
After Curry, Green has also put his trust in Butler. Although he doesn’t hand out praise lightly but he sees something special with Butler in the mix, too. Just like Curry, Green too thinks Butler’s presence could help the Warriors break the play-in curse.
“We’ll just draw on having Jimmy as a whole,” Green said. “You saw the effort he put out there tonight. That’s it. Not necessarily the experience in the play-in or any of that, just riding our aces.”
Green backed his team up with 14 points, four assists, and his usual defensive grit against the Clippers. But more importantly, he echoed what the entire locker room is starting to believe – this isn’t the same old Warriors team heading into the play-in.
They’ve got Curry’s fire. They’ve got Draymond’s edge. And now, with Butler’s postseason brilliance, they just might have the heart to fight through this time.