The Golden State Warriors suffered their most crushing defeat of the season last night, enduring a humiliating 93-144 loss at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. For Stephen Curry, this game may have marked one of the lowest points in his illustrious career. Curry finished with a mere two points, failing to make a single field goal, ending the game 0-7 from the floor and 0-6 from three-point range.
After the game, Curry was asked how this blowout compared to their 52-point loss to the Boston Celtics last season. He responded with optimism, emphasizing that the team’s positive attitude would eventually lead to a turnaround. Despite their current struggles, with a 2-8 record over their last 10 games, Curry remained confident that the Warriors were capable of playing better basketball. “I like the vibes better right now,” Curry stated. “I’m going to keep saying it because I genuinely believe it—we are better than what we’ve been playing, better than what we showed tonight. The vibes are way better. It’s nice to say it, but you’ve got to do something about it. So, we’ll wait and see.”
Curry also addressed the idea of panic, rejecting it as a solution. “I don’t like the panic word. It’s more about accepting where you are and bucking up, trying to figure out how to change the momentum of the season,” he said. “Panic means you don’t have answers, and we have answers.”
It was indeed a night to forget for Curry. His box score was a stark contrast to his usual brilliance—two points (0-7 shooting, 0-6 from three), three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. He also turned the ball over twice in just 24 minutes of action before being pulled from the game. This poor performance was a sharp departure from his usual level of play, marking his first single-digit scoring game of the season. While Curry is still one of the best players in the league, his consistency has sometimes been an issue, as he’s had a few single-digit outings over the past year.
For the Grizzlies, this victory was a much-needed bounce-back after their previous loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Memphis seized the opportunity to deliver a dominant performance against the Warriors, who appeared disjointed and out of sync for much of the game.
Golden State had started the season strong, with a 12-3 record, and even managed a 3-0 stretch without Curry, asserting their position as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. However, their fortunes have changed dramatically since then. The Warriors have gone 2-9 over their last 11 games, with their loss to Memphis standing out as the worst of this troubling stretch. Now sitting at the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference standings, Golden State finds itself just half a game ahead of the rising San Antonio Spurs.
Curry’s individual performance this season has been solid, as he’s averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. However, his numbers have dipped slightly due to a reduced role in head coach Steve Kerr’s system. With a deeper 12-man rotation, Kerr has been limiting Curry’s minutes to around 30.6 per game in order to preserve his health and energy for the postseason. This approach has allowed other players to step up and contribute more offensively, but even these adjustments couldn’t prevent Curry’s disastrous performance last night.
While it was Curry’s first single-digit game of the 2024-25 season, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that it won’t be his last. Last season, Curry had four such games, and as he ages, the risk of more inconsistent performances becomes more apparent. Despite this, Curry remains one of the NBA’s elite shooters and offensive players, but even his remarkable skill set can’t always guarantee success, especially when the team around him is struggling.
The Warriors’ reliance on Curry as their primary offensive weapon is becoming more questionable, especially considering his age and the toll of playing such a demanding role. This has led the team to pursue potential co-stars who could ease the load on Curry and provide a more balanced offensive attack. Over the summer, Golden State explored trade options to pair Curry with another star, and names like Jimmy Butler have continued to surface in trade rumors as the season progresses.
The addition of another marquee player could prove crucial for the Warriors’ playoff hopes. With their current trajectory, the team is in real danger of missing the postseason for the second year in a row. If they hope to regain their standing as championship contenders, they may need to make a bold move to shore up their roster and provide Curry with the help he needs to return to form.
As the season moves forward, the Warriors will need to find a way to turn things around. Whether it’s through player adjustments, trades, or simply rediscovering their chemistry, the Warriors can’t afford to dwell on this latest loss. While Curry’s confidence remains strong, the team as a whole will have to step up and find a way to move past their recent struggles if they want to salvage their season and remain competitive in the crowded Western Conference.
