Warriors Fall Flat Without Curry, Get Outworked by 76ers in Lopsided Loss
The Golden State Warriors have seen what life looks like without Steph Curry before-and it’s rarely pretty. Tuesday night in Philadelphia was another reminder of just how tough things get when their engine isn’t running.
In a game that started off competitive but quickly unraveled, the Warriors fell 113-94 to the 76ers. They were without their superstar point guard, and it showed in just about every phase of the game.
The first half offered some hope-Golden State led by one after the first quarter and kept pace through a back-and-forth second-but once the third quarter hit, the wheels came off. The Warriors managed just 16 points in the frame, and the Sixers never looked back.
This wasn’t just a loss-it was a letdown. The kind that leaves a team soul-searching, especially with the trade deadline looming.
Steve Kerr Sounds Off: “We’ve Got to Bring the Juice”
After the game, head coach Steve Kerr didn’t sugarcoat it. He was clearly frustrated-not just by the result, but by the lack of fire from his group.
“Just a lack of physicality,” Kerr said. “I’m just disappointed with the overall effort.
It was not a game we can repeat, for sure. We’ve got to bring the juice, bring the energy, and bring the collective competitive spirit necessary to win a game.”
That’s a strong message from a coach who’s seen his team weather plenty of ups and downs. And while Kerr acknowledged the possibility that trade rumors might be weighing on the locker room, he didn’t let that be an excuse.
“This was not a good vibe for us tonight,” he added. “It doesn’t matter what the trade chatter is. It’s everyone’s job to come and bring the energy, bring the fight.”
This wasn’t about X’s and O’s. It was about effort-and the Warriors didn’t bring nearly enough of it.
Turnovers, Rebounding Woes Sink Golden State
The Warriors’ struggles weren’t limited to effort, though. The possession battle was a disaster.
Golden State coughed up the ball 20 times, leading to 15 points for the Sixers. It marked the fourth straight game with 18 or more turnovers-an alarming trend for a team that had seemingly cleaned up that part of its game earlier in the season. Sloppy passes, miscommunication, and a lack of focus all played their part.
But it didn’t stop there. The 76ers absolutely dominated the glass, pulling down 25 offensive rebounds and turning them into 20 second-chance points. That kind of disparity is hard to overcome under any circumstances, let alone when your star is sidelined.
The result? Philly took 15 more shots from the field and attempted 19 more free throws. And while the free-throw gap was partially due to Golden State’s own inability to get to the line-they shot just two free throws all night-the lack of aggression and physicality was evident throughout.
Offensive Struggles Continue Without Curry
With Curry out, the Warriors needed someone-anyone-to step up offensively. That didn’t happen. Not a single Warrior scored more than 13 points, and the offense looked disjointed and stagnant for long stretches.
It wasn’t just a matter of missing shots. The ball movement that’s long been a staple of Golden State’s identity was inconsistent.
The spacing was off. The rhythm never came.
And the Sixers took full advantage.
This wasn’t the Warriors’ worst loss of the season by point differential, but in terms of energy and execution, it ranks among the most disappointing. They looked flat, disconnected, and overwhelmed.
Looking Ahead: Trade Deadline Looms, Suns Up Next
Despite the loss, Golden State still holds onto the 8th seed in the Western Conference, three games ahead of the 9th-place Clippers-who just made headlines by trading James Harden for Darius Garland. But the gap is closing, and with the Suns, Lakers, and Timberwolves all ahead in the standings, every game-and every possession-matters.
Thursday’s matchup against Phoenix comes just hours after the trade deadline. Whether the Warriors make a move or stand pat, the message from Kerr is clear: this team needs to show more fight, more urgency, and more cohesion-especially if Curry is out or limited.
The clock is ticking. The playoff race is tightening. And if the Warriors want to stay in the mix, they’ll need to find that spark-and fast.