The Golden State Warriors entered the week desperate for victories, with a schedule that seemed tailor-made for a turnaround. Facing two struggling teams at the bottom of the Western Conference, the opportunities were ripe to steady a frustrating season.
Instead, they squandered both.
A heartbreaking 119-116 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday in Salt Lake City stung deeply, especially after the Jazz benched their second-leading scorer, Keyonte George, for the final 15 minutes of a deadlocked game. Yet, Golden State couldn’t capitalize. The pain intensified on Tuesday at Chase Center, where the Warriors blew an eight-point lead in the last 91 seconds against the Chicago Bulls. Rookie Matas Buzelis exploded for a career-high 41 points, pushing the game to overtime and sealing a 130-124 defeat.
In the aftermath, head coach Steve Kerr didn’t mince words, delivering a raw and unfiltered message that captured the frustration boiling over in the organization.
Kerr’s Blunt Honesty: “We Didn’t Finish”
Steve Kerr, Warriors, Draymond Green Getty Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr refused to sugarcoat the failures.
“Both very winnable games,” Kerr stated flatly. “We had the lead late tonight—obviously one we should have had. But this is the NBA, especially when you’re beaten up. You’re not going to blow anybody out. Games are tight, and you’ve got to finish. We didn’t finish either of the last two nights.”
The collapse against Chicago hinged on critical breakdowns. LJ Cryer missed a crucial free throw that could have extended the lead to three points late in regulation. Then, Draymond Green committed a costly foul on Bulls center Jalen Smith with just over a second left, while up by two. Smith sank both shots, forcing overtime where the Warriors crumbled.
Kerr owned up to the Green mishap. “It was a foul. I watched the replay, and I’m sure he’d like to have that one back. He just got his hand in the wrong spot. I threw him out there for a couple of defensive possessions because I know how good he is on that end, but he wasn’t exactly loose and in the flow.”
His candid words underscored a growing sense of urgency: enough is enough. The Warriors can’t afford these slip-ups if they want to salvage their season.
The Playoff Stakes: A Precarious Position
Stephen Curry, Warriors Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
These back-to-back losses have plunged Golden State to 32-33, dipping below .500 for the first time since December 20. Now ninth in the Western Conference, they’re just one game behind the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
The difference in seeding is massive. The seventh and eighth seeds in the play-in tournament earn two shots at playoff qualification, while ninth and tenth face a do-or-die single elimination. Kerr highlighted this before Tuesday’s debacle.
“It’s a big deal,” Kerr emphasized. “There’s a reason the league set it up that way. Seven and eight get two cracks at it—a huge advantage. So it’s definitely a focus of ours.”
Teammate Pat Spencer reinforced the point post-game: “It’s the difference between having to win one game versus two. You’ve got to be realistic—it’s much easier in that seven-eight spot than nine-ten.”
Compounding the issues are key absences: Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody are sidelined, with De’Anthony Melton scratched before Tuesday due to an adductor strain. The roster’s depth is razor-thin, making every win essential.
The Harsh Reality: No More Excuses
The Jazz and Bulls boast a combined 83 losses this season—teams tanking for better draft odds. These were must-wins for Golden State, yet they let them slip away. That’s the bitter pill lingering in the Chase Center locker room.
Kerr acknowledges the injuries and fatigue, but his message is clear: the excuses stop here. With 17 games left, the Warriors must rally, finish strong, and claw their way back up the standings.
The clock is ticking. Enough is enough—it’s time to turn words into wins.