In a stunning turn of events at the Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors squandered a golden opportunity against a depleted Minnesota Timberwolves squad, falling 127-120 despite a heroic performance from Stephen Curry. The Timberwolves were missing their star player, Anthony Edwards, sidelined with a foot injury, but that didn’t stop Julius Randle and company from spoiling the Dubs’ home court advantage.
Stephen Curry, fresh off a five-game absence due to a right quad contusion, returned in dominant fashion, lighting up the scoreboard with 39 points on an efficient 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. He was undeniably the best player on the floor, carrying the Warriors’ offense single-handedly in a bid to secure the win. Yet, even his brilliance couldn’t overcome the team’s shortcomings, as Minnesota pulled away for the seven-point victory.
But the real drama unfolded on the sidelines, where head coach Steve Kerr made a baffling decision that has fans and analysts scratching their heads: he kept Seth Curry—Stephen’s sharpshooting younger brother—glued to the bench for the entire game. Not a single second of action for the Duke alum, who was signed by the Warriors on December 1 specifically to bolster their perimeter shooting woes. With a career three-point percentage of 43.3%, Seth was brought in as a potential game-changer from deep.
Post-game, Kerr offered a cryptic 13-word explanation for his choice: “He’s (Curry) definitely going to help us at times, but this wasn’t his night.” The vagueness of the statement has sparked widespread confusion and debate. Why bench a proven sniper on a night when the Warriors struggled mightily from three, connecting on just 33% of their attempts? It begs the question: if not now, when?
No one is suggesting Seth Curry needs to log 20-plus minutes every outing, but finding spot minutes for a veteran marksman shouldn’t be rocket science—especially for a team that prioritized his signing earlier this month. In a close contest like this, his outside shooting could have been the spark that tipped the scales in Golden State’s favor. Instead, Kerr opted for other rotations, leaving Seth as a mere spectator and the Warriors’ offense sputtering from long range.
As the Warriors sit at their 26th regular-season game, this benching raises bigger concerns about Kerr’s rotation strategy and how he’ll integrate Seth moving forward. With the team’s future hanging in the balance amid a competitive Western Conference, fans are left wondering if Kerr’s “Curry card” will be played more wisely in the games ahead—or if this puzzling move signals deeper issues on the horizon.