There was a time not too long ago when the Golden State Warriors looked like they were finally turning a corner. Rattling off five straight wins, the vibes were trending in the right direction. But just as quickly, that optimism hit a wall and on Wednesday, April 9, it crashed straight into the San Antonio Spurs.
Yes, the bottom-dwelling, nothing-to-lose Spurs walked into Chase Center and dealt the Dubs a gut punch with a 114-111 defeat. Golden State now sits at 47-33, clinging to the No. 7 seed. That’s Play-In territory, not quite the “week off” Steve Kerr was hoping for.
With just two games left in the regular season, the margin for error is razor-thin, and the Warriors are staring down a high-stakes situation they desperately hoped to avoid.
Steve Kerr Sounds Alarm as Playoffs Stakes Spike
The shocking loss rattled Golden State’s postseason push, and head coach Kerr isn’t sugarcoating the situation. Appearing on Willard and Dibs on 95.7 The Game, Kerr laid it out clearly.
“We want the week off, but we’re also well aware that there’s plenty of ways to get through this stuff,” he said.
“I know the Lakers made the Conference Finals two years ago through the Play-In. It’s not like it’s a death sentence”
The veteran coach pointed to how the Los Angeles Lakers made the Conference Finals two years ago through the Play-In route proving it’s not a dead end. Still, he emphasized the preference to avoid it altogether: “There’s no doubt you’d rather avoid it”
Kerr’s message was less about panic and more about buckling up. The Western Conference standings are so tight that just two games separate the No. 3 seed from No. 8. Every loss is amplified, especially one like this.
The Warriors were at home, holding a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter against one of the weakest teams in the West. But a meltdown in crunch time let it all slip away. To make matters worse, it was Harrison Barnes, a former Warriors, who delivered the final dagger with a buzzer-beating three.
Curry Echoes Kerr’s Urgency as Season Hits Final Stretch
After Kerr’s stern take, Golden State’s super star Stephen Curry followed up with a clear message of his own. Postgame, the two-time MVP didn’t need to raise his voice, his words were sharp and focused.
“We’ve basically been playing playoff-level basketball for the last 20 games,” Curry said. “But now it’s about finishing… These last two games — Portland and the Clippers — it’s simple: take care of business.”
The Warriors have dropped four of their last ten, and while the five-game win streak gave fans hope, the shocking loss to San Antonio changed the tone. Their stumble against the Houston Rockets wasn’t too damaging, they bounced back by knocking off the Phoenix Suns. But this one? This one mattered.
Golden State no longer controls its destiny fully. Two games remain, first against the Portland Trail Blazers, then a potential showdown with the LA Clippers. Win both, and there’s a chance to bypass the Play-In. Slip even once, and they’ll face the fire of a do-or-die matchup that could go either way.
The message from both Kerr and Curry is clear — while the Warriors have enough veteran talent to fight through the Play-In if needed, it’s far from ideal.