All 76ers

Ex-Sixers Star Makes NBA History in Warriors’ Playoff Win vs Rockets

Former Sixer Jimmy Butler continues to shine in the playoffs.
Justin Grasso|
Apr 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) controls the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Apr 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) controls the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

In this story:

Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors

The Philadelphia 76ers happily employed “Playoff Jimmy Butler” during their 2019 NBA Playoff run. These days, Butler is giving that effort to the Golden State Warriors, and finding early success in the 2025 NBA Playoffs during the first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

On Sunday night, the Warriors and the Rockets closed out a busy slate of postseason action, and an upset was brewing all night. At one point, Butler’s Warriors had a 23-point lead. While the Rockets managed to get it down, they still lost by double-digits, dropping Game 1 with a score of 95-85.

Butler and Steph Curry led the way for Golden State, with the former producing 25 points, six assists, seven rebounds, and five steals in 42 minutes of action. Curry dropped 31 points and collected six rebounds and three assists.

The former Sixers star’s stat line allowed him to join elite company in NBA history.

via @StatMamba: Jimmy Butler has the 3rd most playoff games in NBA history recording: 25+ PTS, 5+ REB, 5+ AST, 5+ STL. Only Russ & MJ have more.

Butler didn’t notch any similar lines during his two-round run with the Sixers in 2019, but he was a consistent standout for Philadelphia in matchups against the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors.

Since then, Butler’s strong postseason performances have remained extremely impressive. This year, Butler wrapped up a six-year run with the Miami Heat. A public standoff with the organization resulted in a trade to the Golden State Warriors.

Before reaching the postseason, Butler posted averages of 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists with the Warriors. Golden State won the seventh seed by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Now, the Warriors are one game closer to pulling off an upset against a young Rockets team.

More 76ers on SI

Published
Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

Share on XFollow @JGrasso_
Home/News