The Golden State Warriors found themselves in another nail-biter against the Phoenix Suns, but this one ended in heartbreak - a 99-98 loss that now marks their third straight defeat. It’s been a tough stretch for Golden State, and the frustration is starting to show, even for a veteran core that’s seen just about everything the league can throw at them.
The game itself had plenty of drama, including a flagrant foul on Dillon Brooks after he took a hard shot at Stephen Curry’s ribs - an unnecessary hit that drew immediate attention and a flagrant whistle. But that wasn’t the only moment that had fans buzzing. Curry, always one to make subtle statements with his footwear, took the floor in a pair of Devin Booker’s signature sneakers - the Book 1s - while playing against Booker and the Suns.
After the game, Curry didn’t shy away from talking about the choice. “There’s a bond there, for sure,” he said.
“I was trying to beat him in his own shoes. It didn’t work.”
It was a light-hearted moment in an otherwise frustrating night for the Warriors’ star guard.
Curry logged 33 minutes and finished with 15 points, seven assists, and nine rebounds - a solid stat line, but not quite the explosion we’ve come to expect from him. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler stole the show with a 33-point performance, adding three assists and three rebounds in a game that came down to the wire.
Now sitting at 13-15 on the season, the Warriors are clinging to the ninth spot in the Western Conference standings. It’s a far cry from the championship-caliber dominance we’ve seen from this group in years past. And Curry, ever the leader, didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“We obviously aren’t a good team right now because our record says so,” he said postgame. But he also pointed to the adversity as a potential turning point - if the team responds the right way.
“I do like the fact that it’s challenging us and giving us a sense of urgency,” Curry added. “Some years you learn these lessons while you’re winning, and then it catches up to you.
But if we’re going to do anything relevant this year, feeling this pain right now and searching a little bit could be a good thing - if we do something about it.”
That’s the key: if they do something about it.
There’s no denying the Warriors are in a rough patch. They’ve dropped six of their last ten, and the chemistry that once defined this dynasty looks a little out of sync. Whether it’s rotations, defensive lapses, or offensive droughts, the issues are real - and they’re piling up.
But Curry’s comments suggest there’s still belief in the locker room. The urgency is there. The question now is whether this veteran group can channel that urgency into wins before the hole gets too deep.
The Warriors won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption - they’ll face the Suns again, this time back home at Chase Center. And you can bet the energy will be high.
Whether Curry laces up another pair of Book 1s remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Golden State needs more than just symbolic statements right now. They need results.