Jimmy Butler Steph Curry shine as Warriors down Grizzlies to reach play offs

LOS ANGELES - Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 75 points as the Golden State Warriors squeezed into the NBA play-offs on April 15 with a pulsating 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

A thrilling play-in duel at San Francisco’s Chase Center saw the Warriors hang on after a ferocious second-half fightback by Memphis, who trailed by as much as 20 points before rallying back to edge into the lead late in the game.

But just when Memphis threatened to pull off a famous victory, Curry stepped up with a huge 15-point fourth quarter to shepherd the Warriors to a win that sets up a first-round play-off series against second seeds Houston.

Curry finished with 37 points, including six three-pointers, while Butler led the Golden State scoring with 38 points in another masterful performance from the former Miami Heat talisman.

Butler though singled out teammate Curry for rescuing the Warriors with a heroic fourth-quarter display.

“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 (with Curry),he’s so poised, so calm and he was a huge part of getting us the victory,” he told TNT television.

“And we’ve got a group of guys that have got a lot of fight, that never give up and we did what we were supposed to do finally.”

Memphis were left pondering what might have been after a rousing second-half fightback that fell just short, losing precious momentum in the third quarter when Ja Morant was forced to leave the floor for several minutes after rolling an ankle.

Desmond Bane led from the front with 30 points while Morant, who returned to the game but was clearly hampered by his injury, finished with