Warriors Face Grizzlies in Critical Play-In Game Tonight
The Warriors will host the Grizzlies tonight in a high-stakes #7 vs. #8 play-in matchup. Both teams finished with identical 48-34 records this season, but Golden State earned the higher seed thanks to their 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Memphis.
History isn’t on the Warriors’ side, though. They’re winless in play-in games, going 0-3 since the tournament began. That includes a painful loss to these same Grizzlies back in 2022.
Can they finally break the curse?
The Western Conference playoff picture wasn’t settled until the very last day of the regular season. Teams were scrambling for position right up to the final buzzer.
Golden State nearly avoided this whole situation. Their overtime loss to the Clippers on Sunday proved costly. A win would’ve matched them with Minnesota’s record, and the Warriors held the tiebreaker that would’ve secured a top-six seed and direct playoff entry.
Instead, they’re back in the play-in tournament they’ve never conquered.
Oddsmakers at BetOnline have installed the Warriors as 7-point favorites despite their play-in struggles.
Tonight marks Jimmy Butler’s first postseason appearance in a Warriors uniform. Butler has a reputation for elevating his game dramatically in the playoffs during his Miami Heat days. If he brings that same intensity to Golden State, they could make serious noise this postseason.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. A win means facing the Rockets in round one – a team Golden State dominated 3-1 in the regular season. A loss forces them into another elimination game just to make the playoffs.
Size could be a major issue for the Warriors tonight. Their starting lineup is severely undersized, with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green (both 6’7″ or shorter) as their tallest starters.
That’s a problem against Memphis.
The Grizzlies will counter with 6’10” Jaren Jackson Jr. and the towering 7’4″ rookie Zach Edey. Golden State will need to battle fiercely on the boards to overcome this disadvantage.
Can the Warriors finally end their play-in misery, or will the Grizzlies send them to the brink of elimination again?
