The Golden State Warriors stand out as one of the leading franchises in the league, boasting 4 NBA championships in the last decade. However, the current season has presented challenges for the team, including injuries to star player Stephen Curry and a 5-game ban for Draymond Green due to his unprofessional behavior.
As the Warriors faced a significant challenge against the Sacramento Kings in the intense in-season tournament, it seems their journey in the tournament is officially over after being eliminated.
Is the Warriors out of the NBA In-season tournament?
The Golden State Warriors aimed for a win on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings to advance in the in-season tournament. Unfortunately, they faced a 123-124 defeat against the Kings, officially ending their run in the inaugural NBA in-season tournament.
The Warriors had hoped to secure a spot in the quarterfinals set for Monday or Tuesday next week. Instead, they will now play two regular season matchups on Wednesday and Friday against other non-qualifying teams.
The NBA promptly released the Warriors’ schedule after the team’s defeat by the Kings at the Golden 1 Center. On Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. PT, they will play host to the Portland Trail Blazers, and on Friday, December 8, at 5 p.m. PT, they will travel to play the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In addition, the Warriors’ clash with the Blazers will be their first of the season, whilst their meeting with the Thunder will be their fourth. Curry’s game-winning basket with 0.2 seconds remaining on November 3 helped the Warriors defeat the Thunder. However, they faced consecutive losses against the Thunder game on November 16 and 18. As the NBA in-season tournament quarter-finals approach, the Kings will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night at the Golden 1 Center in one of the four knockout-round games.
Warriors suffer major injury blow in loss to Kings
The Warriors and the Kings had an intense matchup, filled with incidents that heightened the excitement. Draymond Green’s return after a 5-game suspension, coupled with his rivalry with Domantas Sabonis, made the game a must-watch for fans.
To advance to the quarterfinals, the Warriors needed to win by 12 points or more, while the Kings aimed to secure a win or lose by 11 or fewer points for a chance at the knockout stage. Curry, Wiggins, and Thompson delivered exceptional performances, showcasing some of the best basketball of the season from the Warriors. Green and Looney posed challenges for Sabonis throughout the game.
Despite the Warriors taking the lead, things took a turn when Chris Paul couldn’t return to the second quarter due to a lower left leg injury, giving the Kings an opportunity to capitalize. Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors to a 24-point lead in the second quarter, but the Kings displayed more energy in the third quarter. The situation worsened for the Warriors as Gary Payton also left the court limping.
In the fourth quarter, the Kings rallied and reduced the Warriors’ lead to 9 points, ultimately securing a memorable victory. Both Curry and Wiggins had outstanding performances, finishing the game with 29 points each but failed to secure the much-needed victory. Curry also contributed 10 rebounds, while Wiggins had 9 rebounds. Additionally, Thompson finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Now the Dubs will focus on their regular season campaign where they must continue to secure victories in order to advance deeper into the playoffs this time.
