Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry responded by trying to shoot the Golden State Warriors into the playoffs, and they succeeded on Tuesday night, beating the Memphis Grizzlies, 121-116, and earning the seventh seed in the long and winding Western Conference postseason bracketing. The victory, part of the N.B.A. play-in tournament, means the Warriors will face the Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round series beginning Sunday.

Butler had a monster game with 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists. A player with a reputation for clutch performances in high stakes games, “Playoff Jimmy” lived up to his moniker, making impactful plays at both ends of the floor. His energy helped relieve some pressure on Curry, who also had a huge night, scoring 37 points. Curry hit crucial shots late, including a baseline three-pointer with under two minutes to play, and another from the left wing with one minute remaining. He then added two important free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

The Grizzlies had one last opportunity to tie the game, but Santi Aldama failed to get the ball inbounds in time, resulting in a five-second violation that ended Memphis’s chances. Desmond Bane scored 30 points for Memphis, while Ja Morant added 22. The Grizzlies advance to face the winner of the Mavericks-Kings matchup for the final West playoff spot.

But the Golden State victory was not buoyed merely by star power, but solid team play. Butler turned in one of his best games since joining the Warriors at the trade deadline, making 12 of 20 shots and 12 of 18 free throws. It was his second straight game with 30 or more points and his highest output with the team. His aggressive play, particularly in important stretches, kept the Warriors in control even as Memphis mounted multiple runs.

Butler brought it back Golden State’s way with a steal and a dunk as Memphis started to hit its stride in the third quarter. Morant gave the Grizzlies a scare when he rolled his right ankle after stepping on Buddy Hield’s foot. In spite of the injury, he converted a three-point play that cut Memphis to within one point for a spell. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points, while Zach Edey had 14 points and 17 rebounds. Edey hit two clutch free throws with 14.3 seconds left, but that wasn’t enough to change the course of the game.

Curry had it worse than his 52-point explosion against the Grizzlies’ defense earlier in the month. He went 9-for-22 from the field while enduring ongoing defensive pressure, especially from Scotty Pippen Jr., who fouled out. Curry never lost his nerve and he also never wavered in the game fixture when it still counted. He also collected eight rebounds and added four assists.

The game included numerous strong opening quarter by the Warriors highlighted by a run aided and abetted by Butler. He participated in four consecutive scoring plays, beginning with an assist to Gary Payton II for a backdoor dunk, followed by an alley-oop to Quinten Post for a three, and then a three-point basket and a traditional three-point play. Butler did not appear to be dealing with pain from the quadriceps injury he suffered in the Warriors’ previous game against the Clippers.

This victory meant that Golden State, a team that previously had never won a series in the play-in tournament before Tuesday, would take on the Memphis Grizzlies in an elimination game for the eighth and final playoff spot. Their seasons came to an end in both 2021 and 2024 during play-in games, including a gut-wrenching overtime defeat by Memphis at Chase Center in 2021. That history provided extra motivation for some veterans like Curry and Draymond Green, who were eager to not experience an early exit again.

The Warriors had wanted to avoid the play-in tournament entirely but that idea went out the window when they dropped their last regular-season game in overtime to the Clippers. That loss was their third at home in the final week of the season, and it also left their playoff path uncertain. But with this victory, they’ve secured their spot and now turn their attention to the coming series against Houston.

Golden State’s play indicates they are peaking at the right time. With Butler playing as well as he is next to Curry, they have a real dynamic duo to ride into the playoffs. Their resilience, chemistry and collective playoff experience could make them a dangerous foe for any team in the West.

The horrifying collision of a sightseeing helicopter with New York City’s Hudson River has once again put the spotlight on helicopter tourism. The New York Helicopter flight resulted in a tragic accident when the helicopter sank and killed all six passengers onboard. Among the fatalities was tech executive Agustin Escobar alongside his wife and three children. The pilot was also among the casualties. This Spanish family was lured by what they were told was going to be an unforgettable sightseeing venture over New York that promised an “industry-leading safety record.” The catastrophic impact of this trip has sparked global conversations and a renewed call to action concerning the safety and the apparent need for helicopter tours.

Helicopter tours in New York City have become increasingly common, with nearly 30,000 tours conducted each year. Although the majority of these tours are conducted without incident, the few fatal crashes have raised concerns for residents and government officials. The noise and helicopter pollution combined with the already high levels of noise pollution in the city is a major source of frustration for New Yorkers.

Michael Roth, the New York Helicopter Tours CEO, extended his condolences and shared his surprise at the crash. As he spoke to the press, he brought up the possibility of a bird strike or some mechanical malfunction, although its cause is still being investigated. The footage of the helicopter losing control and diving into the Hudson River has gained a lot of attention, further escalating public concern and interest.

Unfortunately, these incidents are anything but unusual. There have been at least 32 fatalities due to helicopter crashes in the city from 1977 through 2019. This incident adds to that, bringing the number to 38. One of the most well-known incidents happened in 2018, when a Liberty Helicopter’s operated helicopter plunged into the East River, resulting in the death of five passengers. The passengers were on an open-door tour, so they were wearing harnesses that subsequently drowned them when the helicopter rolled over. That incident resulted in a ban on open-door sightseeing flights on the Federal Aviation Administration. Richard Vance, the pilot, was the only survivor.

Liberty Helicopters has been linked to a number of serious incidents. In 2009, one of their helicopters crashed into a private plane flying over the Hudson River, killing all nine people on both aircraft. Most recently, in 2019 a helicopter crash on top of a Manhattan skyscraper resulted in the death of the pilot. Despite this record, Liberty Helicopter continues to operate.

In addition to the crashes, the helicopters are also considered a nuisance by a great portion of the city’s residents. Because touring flights are confined to the lower levels of airspace due to commercial air traffic, their sound resonates through residential areas, parks, and even historical landmarks. Although the flights are restricted to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and can only run Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM, they still interfere with daily life. Unlike these scheduled flights, Concorde and private jets are not bound by as many rules, adding to the traffic congestion.

Designated routes were put in place in 2009 following the deadly midair collision in order to contain helicopter traffic south of Manhattan, around Liberty Island, and along the Hudson River. Helicopter flights that start in Manhattan are banned from flying over land, but those coming from outside the bordering boroughs have no restrictions.

Following Thursday’s crash, there has been a louder push to increase restrictions, or even eliminate sightseeing flights altogether. Advocacy groups like Stop the Chop have fought to eliminate nonessential flights over the city for years. Because of their campaigns, incremental changes have been made, including a ban on short flights in 2010, and Sunday flights in 2016.

Legislators proposed the Safe and Quiet Skies Act in 2023 to place stricter altitude and noise restrictions on sightseeing flights, but the proposal was not approved. Now, following this latest disaster, supporters are renewing their push for the proposal. Representative Jerry Nadler, one of the supporters, argued that the crash was both predictable and preventable. He also highlighted longstanding worries about the uncontrolled level of air traffic in one of the busiest regions of the country.

While the debate concerning helicopter tourism in New York City remains volatile, the investigation into the latest crash is still ongoing. For policymakers, angry residents, and families left in grief, there is a sincere wish to avert in the future yet another example of deliberate neglect suffering.