Even with Steph Curry sidelined due to a knee injury, you’d think the Golden State Warriors could close out a game when they're up by eight with just 90 seconds on the clock. But Tuesday night proved otherwise.
In a heartbreaker, Draymond Green fouled Jalen Smith with 1.4 seconds left, allowing Smith to sink both free throws and push the game into overtime. The Warriors then struggled, shooting just 2-for-11 in OT, ultimately falling 130-124 to the Chicago Bulls.
Golden State’s Struggles in Close Games
This defeat marks the Warriors' third consecutive loss, with the last two coming against teams sitting more than 10 games below .500. Just a day earlier, they stumbled against the Utah Jazz, 119-116, as three Jazz players on two-way contracts combined for 22 points in the final quarter, sealing the Warriors' fate.
Tuesday’s game saw second-year forward Matas Buzelis explode for a career-high 41 points, including a clutch three-pointer that ignited the Bulls' late rally. The Warriors missed critical put-backs, fouled Buzelis on a three-point attempt, committed a costly turnover, and squandered their lead.
Despite these missteps, the Warriors could have secured the win and maintained a record above .500 if not for Green’s foul on Smith's desperate shot.
Veterans Falling Short
In a game where lesser-known Warriors stepped up, the veterans faltered. Green, aside from his crucial foul, ended with a -19 plus/minus, hitting 4-for-5 from deep but failing to contain Buzelis.
Al Horford struggled too, shooting 5-for-18. On the flip side, two-way player LJ Cryer and former two-way player Pat Spencer combined for an impressive 34 points and six three-pointers.
While Golden State remains hopeful for Curry's return this season, it’s becoming questionable if it will make a difference. The Warriors have now slipped below the Los Angeles Clippers to ninth in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers in 10th.
Considering their recent performances, rushing Curry back might not be the answer. If they can’t close out games against teams like the Bulls and Jazz, can they really expect to win two play-in games?
The silver lining? The Warriors are still 8.5 games clear of falling out of the play-in entirely. However, if they harbored hopes of making another run from the play-in like last year, these recent losses should serve as a serious reality check.