The Golden State Warriors dropped a tough one in Portland on Sunday night, falling 131-126 to the Trail Blazers in a game that once again highlighted their ongoing struggles with consistency and execution. Despite another electric performance from Stephen Curry, Golden State couldn’t close the deal, and the frustration is starting to show.
Curry didn’t mince words postgame, calling out the defensive lapses and mental mistakes that have become all too familiar for this Warriors squad.
“There were a couple of breakdowns on the ball switches, letting them walk into threes,” Curry said. “You’re leaving capable shooters open.
We know we can’t turn the ball over. There were definitely moments where we could’ve taken control of the game and the momentum.”
This wasn’t just a one-off misstep. It was the second straight loss for Golden State, and once again, Curry’s scoring brilliance wasn’t enough to drag them across the finish line.
After dropping 39 points on Friday, he followed it up with a 48-point explosion against Portland. But the supporting cast couldn’t match his energy, and the defensive miscues piled up.
“We’re not winning,” Curry said bluntly. “We’re not executing well enough for 48.
There’s a lot of things you can point at. I think tonight was a mixture of everything.”
That “mixture of everything” includes turnovers, defensive lapses, and a lack of cohesion - all of which have been recurring themes during this rocky stretch. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Curry also pointed to the team’s fight, something that’s still very much alive despite the results.
“We were resilient enough to give ourselves a chance, so I like the spirit that we have,” he added. “Now it’s matching that with execution and, again, sustained effort no matter who is on the floor.”
And that last part - "no matter who is on the floor" - speaks volumes. Injuries have hit the Warriors hard early this season, and it’s been a revolving door in the starting lineup.
In fact, they’ve rolled out a different starting five in each of their last nine games. That kind of instability makes it tough to build rhythm, especially for a team that relies so heavily on chemistry and ball movement.
Curry, now just two games into his return from injury, acknowledged the impact of the constant lineup changes.
“It’s a revolving door, which every team goes through,” he said. “Whether it’s forced or not, for us to find rhythm… I don’t know how many teams are as successful throughout 82 with that as part of their identity. I’m hoping we can correct that.”
Sunday also marked Draymond Green’s first start in weeks, adding another variable to a team still trying to find its footing. Al Horford and Gary Payton II remain on the injury report, and the lack of continuity is clearly taking a toll.
Golden State now turns its focus to Thursday’s road matchup in Phoenix, where they’ll look to reset and regain some momentum against a Suns team that won’t make things easy. The effort is there.
The talent is there. But if the Warriors want to stop the bleeding, they’ll need more than just Curry’s heroics - they’ll need a full 48 minutes of locked-in, connected basketball.