In a dominant display that snapped a two-game skid, the Golden State Warriors crushed the Indiana Pacers 114-83 on Sunday, November 9, boosting their record to 6-5. Coming off a shaky 5-5 start, the Warriors delivered a statement win that showcased their potential, even as head coach Steve Kerr delivered a raw, honest assessment in his postgame presser.
Kerr didn’t sugarcoat it: despite the blowout victory, the team is still grappling with its core identity. “Overall, we haven’t played real well,” Kerr confessed. “But, I’m very confident in this team. It’s going to be a tough trip. As you mentioned, two back-to-backs. We felt like getting through this part of this schedule in one piece… It sets up the season well for us… I can picture the team, I can see what kind of team we’re gonna be. But, we don’t really have our identity yet.”
The Warriors burst out of the gates this season with fire and focus, but a brutal early schedule drained their momentum, leaving the squad searching for consistency. This decisive win over the Pacers could be the spark they need, injecting fresh energy into the lineup and paving the way for a stronger rhythm moving forward.
One of the night’s standout performers was veteran big man Al Horford, who lit up the scoreboard in his best offensive outing as a Warrior. The 38-year-old poured in 12 points, drilling 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while adding 4 rebounds, an assist, and a trio of emphatic blocks.
Postgame, Horford was quick to shout out teammate Jimmy Butler for setting him up for success. “Jimmy, right away, was making it clear to look for me,” Horford shared. “A few times, he had layups, and he was kicking out and encouraging me to shoot the ball. The passes were there, they were on the money. I credit a lot of that to him, for kind of getting me going offensively.”
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Horford, who swapped his Boston Celtics green for Warriors blue this summer after his contract expired, has been a defensive anchor from day one. While his scoring touch has been inconsistent, nights like this remind everyone why he’s a game-changer—especially when locked in from deep.
The Warriors pulled off the win without their Splash Brother extraordinaire, Stephen Curry, who sat out his third straight game battling flu-like symptoms. But hope is on the horizon: ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports that Golden State anticipates Curry’s return on Tuesday against the formidable Oklahoma City Thunder.
In his eight games this season, Curry has been electric, averaging 26.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field and 38.9% from three, while knocking down free throws at a scorching 95.3% clip. His trademark movement and sharpshooting are exactly what the Dubs need to challenge the West’s top dogs.
The big question: Will Curry ease back in with a minutes restriction, or dive right into his usual 31.1-minute workload? Either way, his presence could tilt the scales in a matchup against the reigning NBA champions, who boast a near-perfect 10-1 record.
With this victory, the Warriors climb to eighth in the Western Conference standings, hungry for more. But Tuesday’s clash with the Thunder—undefeated in 10 of their first 11—promises to be a true test of Kerr’s evolving squad. If they can harness that elusive identity, the Warriors might just reclaim their spot among the elite.