Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team's media day Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Warriors’ Missed Opportunity: A Blowout Loss to Sacramento Kings
Saturday night, the Golden State Warriors managed to secure a hard-fought victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, despite being without their superstar, Stephen Curry. It was a significant win for the Warriors, marking their first back-to-back victories since November 22. This win gave them a much-needed morale boost and an opportunity to build momentum. The stage seemed set for a successful Sunday game when the Warriors welcomed the Sacramento Kings to Chase Center, with Curry returning to the lineup and the Kings missing their star player, De’Aaron Fox.
Golden State had a chance to extend their streak to three games—a feat they hadn’t accomplished since November 15. However, what unfolded was nothing short of a disaster. The Warriors failed to capitalize on what should have been an advantageous situation. Instead of pushing their winning streak to three games, the Warriors were completely blown out, losing 129-99 to a Sacramento team that had been on a four-game winning streak after their initial struggles post-coach Mike Brown’s firing.
A Rough Start: The Warriors Never Led
From the opening tip, it was clear that the Warriors were not prepared for the challenge that lay ahead. The Kings came out firing, jumping to a quick 7-0 lead before the Warriors even had a chance to settle into their rhythm. Golden State had no answers to Sacramento’s energetic start, and it didn’t help that Curry—who had been the catalyst for their recent success—didn’t score until the 7:34 mark of the first quarter. By the time the Warriors were able to get on the board, Sacramento had already established control of the game.
What followed was a continuation of the Warriors’ season-long struggles. Golden State looked remarkably disjointed, especially offensively, turning the ball over eight times in the opening quarter alone. Each turnover seemed to compound the frustration, with many of them being unforced or stemming from poor decision-making. The Warriors looked completely out of sync, and Sacramento took full advantage of this, pushing the lead to 18 points at one point. By the end of the first quarter, the Warriors found themselves in a massive hole, trailing 36-21.
A Brief Glimmer of Hope in the Second Quarter
Despite the shaky start, the Warriors came out with some fire in the second quarter. For a few minutes, it looked like they might mount a comeback. They rattled off a quick run, cutting the Kings’ lead to just four points about three minutes into the quarter. At that moment, there was a flicker of hope—perhaps this was the start of the usual second-quarter surge that the Warriors have often relied on.
However, Sacramento quickly quelled any optimism from the Warriors’ run. They responded with a decisive 11-0 run of their own, re-establishing control of the game. Golden State’s defense continued to be non-existent, as they struggled to stop the Kings’ offense. Even though their own offense was clicking better than it had in the first quarter, the lack of defensive effort made it irrelevant. Sacramento had already built an insurmountable lead by halftime, outscoring the Warriors 39-30 in the second quarter to take a commanding 75-51 advantage.
The Warriors, for all their offensive firepower, simply could not match Sacramento’s energy and execution on either end of the floor. While Curry and Klay Thompson tried to find their rhythm offensively, it was clear that Golden State’s lack of defensive discipline and their inability to contain Sacramento’s shooters and playmakers was the true cause of their downfall.
The Third Quarter: No Fight Left in the Warriors
After the break, fans were hopeful that the Warriors would come out with the kind of intensity that has defined their successful runs in the past. They were known for their explosive third quarters—often turning games around with quick, high-scoring bursts. But on this night, the third quarter Warriors never showed up. Instead of coming out with urgency, the Warriors found themselves still unable to stop the Kings, who were simply too hot to handle.
There was a brief moment where the Warriors showed some life, chipping away at the lead a little bit, but it was nothing more than a fleeting moment. Sacramento continued to control the game, never allowing Golden State to build any kind of sustained momentum. Even though Golden State was able to score in spurts, they could not string together enough stops to make a serious push. By the end of the third quarter, the Kings were still up comfortably, and any hope of a Warriors’ comeback had evaporated.
Key Problems: Defensive Woes and Turnovers
This loss underscored many of the issues that have plagued the Warriors throughout the season, most notably their defensive struggles and turnover issues. Despite having the personnel to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, Golden State has consistently underperformed on that end of the floor. Against Sacramento, the Warriors allowed the Kings to shoot 51.7% from the field and 44.2% from beyond the arc—horrific numbers for a team with aspirations of contending for a championship.
The Warriors’ defense has been far too porous all season long. Their rotations have been slow, and their ability to defend without fouling has diminished significantly. Against a team like Sacramento, which thrives on fast breaks and three-point shooting, these defensive lapses are a recipe for disaster. The Kings made the most of their open shots, and even when the Warriors tried to close out on shooters, Sacramento’s crisp ball movement kept them on their heels.
On top of that, the Warriors’ turnover issues have also been a recurring theme this season. In this game alone, Golden State turned the ball over a staggering 22 times. Turnovers are particularly costly against a team like Sacramento, which loves to run in transition. The Kings converted many of those turnovers into easy points, widening the gap and putting Golden State even further out of reach.
Curry’s Return and Lack of Support
The Warriors were able to get Curry back into the lineup for this game, but his return was not enough to swing the momentum in Golden State’s favor. Curry finished with 26 points, but the rest of the team was largely ineffective. Thompson, who has struggled with consistency this season, finished with just 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Andrew Wiggins, another key player for the Warriors, continued to show flashes of brilliance but also had an inconsistent game.
Golden State’s supporting cast failed to step up when needed. Players like Draymond Green, who is expected to provide leadership and defense, were not able to contribute enough in either area to make a difference. The absence of Fox for Sacramento, a key player who could have helped slow Curry down, didn’t seem to matter much. The Kings’ depth and execution were far superior, with Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, and Domantas Sabonis all stepping up to fill the void left by Fox and make significant contributions.
Moving Forward: What’s Next for the Warriors?
The loss to Sacramento raises more questions than answers for the Warriors. While the team has shown flashes of their championship pedigree this season, they have also been incredibly inconsistent, especially against teams like Sacramento that can shoot efficiently and score in transition. The Warriors need to find more consistency on both ends of the floor if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
With Curry back, there’s hope that Golden State can still turn things around. But it’s clear that they need to make serious adjustments. The defense needs to be more disciplined, and the turnovers need to be cut down drastically. Without these changes, the Warriors will continue to struggle against high-energy teams that are capable of punishing them for their mistakes.
Their next game is against the Miami Heat, and the Warriors cannot afford another embarrassing loss if they hope to stay relevant in a tightly packed Western Conference. Every game counts, and Golden State must figure out how to play a more complete game if they want to contend for another championship.
