Warriors Stumble in Crunch Time: A Closer Look at Their Recent Struggles
The Golden State Warriors are hitting a rough patch, and it’s not going unnoticed by head coach Steve Kerr. After a tough 130-124 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls at Chase Center, Kerr candidly addressed the team's current predicament.
“Both very winnable games,” Kerr remarked. “We had the lead late tonight, obviously one we should have had.
But this is how the NBA is. Especially when you're beaten up, you're not going to blow anybody out.
Games are going to be tight, you got to finish, and we didn't finish either of the last two nights.”
Back-to-Back Heartbreakers
The Warriors' recent woes include a narrow 119-116 defeat to the Utah Jazz just the night before, where they struggled at the free-throw line, going 14-of-21 against a team they were expected to handle. In the clash with Chicago, Golden State had a chance to seal the win in regulation but faltered, allowing Jalen Smith to sink two clutch free throws with just 1.4 seconds left, pushing the game into overtime.
Once in overtime, the Bulls’ Matas Buzelis took command, dropping a career-high 41 points, while Josh Giddey contributed a triple-double with 21 points, 17 assists, and 13 rebounds.
Even with bright spots like Brandin Podziemski, who’s averaging 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists this season, the Warriors find themselves struggling to close out games. Contributions from Pat Spencer, LJ Cryer, and Kristaps Porzingis, who combined for 51 points, were not enough to compensate for the absence of their cornerstone player.
Missing the Curry Factor
Stephen Curry, sidelined since January 30 with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, has been sorely missed. His season averages of 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, along with a 39.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc, underscore his critical role in the team’s success. The Warriors announced Curry would be out for at least another 10 days, though Curry himself described the injury as "unpredictable," casting doubt on his return.
Adding to their woes, the Warriors lost Jimmy Butler for the season due to an ACL tear in January, and the injury list has only expanded since then.
Playoff Dreams on the Brink
With these consecutive losses, Golden State's record has dipped to 32-33, placing them ninth in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Bulls, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, capitalized on the opportunity to pull off an overtime win.
Despite a surprising victory over the Houston Rockets last week, the Warriors need more consistency to stay competitive. With 17 games left in the regular season, each loss without Curry feels more significant.
For the Warriors to keep their playoff hopes alive, they need Curry back in action and must capitalize on the opportunities that Kerr believes are within their grasp. The clock is ticking, and every game counts.