Warriors Drop Another Close One - Kerr Calls for Better Execution in the Clutch
Another night, another narrow loss for the Golden State Warriors - and this one stung. Despite a vintage explosion from Stephen Curry, who lit up the Portland Trail Blazers for 48 points and a season-high 12 threes, the Warriors couldn’t seal the deal late, falling 136-131 in a shootout that was as thrilling as it was frustrating.
After the game, head coach Steve Kerr didn’t sugarcoat it. The message was clear: this team isn’t finishing games, and that’s becoming a serious problem.
“We Just Aren’t Closing Games”
Kerr met with the media and pointed directly to his team’s late-game struggles. “They’re all tough,” he said, reflecting on the loss.
“But when you make 24 threes, you should win the game.” He’s not wrong.
Any time your team hits that many from deep - and gets nearly 50 from your franchise cornerstone - you expect to walk away with a win. But the Warriors couldn’t get enough stops, and Portland matched them nearly shot-for-shot, knocking down 20 threes of their own.
The game flipped in the fourth quarter. Golden State had built a 10-point cushion, but things unraveled quickly.
“They scored eight straight,” Kerr noted. “We weren’t getting back in transition off our misses.”
That lapse opened the door for Portland to surge. Jerami Grant’s pair of clutch threes were daggers - momentum-swingers that turned the tide and put the pressure squarely back on Golden State.
Turnovers Continue to Haunt
If there’s been a common thread in the Warriors’ losses this season, it’s turnovers. That issue reared its head again Sunday night.
Draymond Green, always the emotional heartbeat of the team, played with his usual edge and intensity - but he also coughed up the ball eight times. That’s a tough number to overcome, especially in a game decided by just five points.
Kerr didn’t throw his veteran under the bus, but he acknowledged the need for better decision-making. “His energy is amazing for us, and he plays so hard,” Kerr said.
“But he has to find a way to walk that line… He has to have 3 turnovers instead of 8. A lot of them, he was in a rush.”
In total, the Warriors surrendered 24 points off turnovers - a backbreaker in a game where every possession mattered. “We have to find a way to connect the game,” Kerr said, clearly frustrated by the disconnect between the team’s offensive firepower and its defensive and ball-handling lapses.
Kerr Takes Accountability
While pointing out the flaws, Kerr didn’t shy away from taking responsibility himself. “I’m not doing my job well this year,” he admitted.
“We’re 13-14. We have enough talent to be much better.
We’re losing all these close games. I have to find a way to help this team.”
That kind of accountability isn’t just coach-speak - it’s a reflection of the urgency that’s starting to creep into Golden State’s season. The Warriors have been in the thick of nearly every contest, but they haven’t been able to string together consistent execution in the final minutes. The record in clutch games - 5-9 - speaks for itself.
What’s Next?
The Warriors won’t have long to dwell on this one. They’ll look to regroup before Thursday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns - a team that presents its own set of challenges. But the path forward is clear: clean up the turnovers, tighten the defense when it matters most, and figure out how to close.
Because when you have Stephen Curry going off for 48 and you still can’t get the win? That’s not just a missed opportunity - that’s a warning sign.