Grizzlies-Warriors takeaways: Playoff Jimmy, clutch Steph and question

SAN FRANCISCO — With the Western Conference seventh seed hanging in the balance, the Warriors and Grizzlies battled it out in dramatic fashion Tuesday night.

The Warriors emerged victorious, 121-116, sending the Grizzlies to a win-or-go-home battle against the winner of Wednesday’s Dallas Mavericks-Sacramento Kings matchup, while Golden State will face the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.

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Here are some key takeaways from the play-in at the Chase Center:

The return of Playoff Jimmy

The Chase Center crowd got their first taste of Playoff Jimmy. From the opening possession, Butler was in attack mode, relentlessly hunting mismatches against Memphis’ oversized lineup of Zach Edey, Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. With each Grizzlies big man struggling to stick with Butler in isolation, he masterfully carved his way through Memphis’ defense at every opportunity.

By halftime, Butler had already racked up 21 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting from the field, punctuated by a pair of threes and numerous strong drives that drew fouls, sending him to the line eight times while converting five. Add in four rebounds, four assists and a timely pickpocket steal, and it was clear Butler wasn’t just facilitating energy for the Warriors, he was defining their identity in the game. His aggression set the tone for Golden State and provided a steadying presence that willed the Warriors through a few third- and fourth-quarter runs.

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Butler finished with 38 points (12-20 FG, 12-18 FT, 2-4 3PT) with seven boards, six dimes and three steals across 40 minutes. Butler didn’t just dominate the stat sheet; he dictated the tempo and looked comfortable embodying the Robin role in Golden State.

Stephen Curry is too clutch

The MVP chants echoed through the rafters of Chase Center, a sound Stephen Curry knows all too well. On a night the Warriors couldn’t afford to stumble, Curry once again reminded everyone why he’s the heart and soul of this franchise. Despite…