It’s been a tough season for the Golden State Warriors. The team believed at the start of the season that it could make one last run in the playoffs, potentially for a title, with superstar guard Stephen Curry. However, with just 16 games to go, that dream may be dead in the water.
The Warriors fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, sinking their record to 32-34 on the season. They currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, just a half-game above the Portland Trailblazers. The Warriors aren’t in any danger of missing the play-in, holding a sizable lead over the Memphis Grizzlies for the final spot.
Still, the injuries the Warriors are dealing with are beginning to become too much to bear for coach Steve Kerr.
“We’re going through it,” Kerr said after the game. “We’re about as beaten up as any team I can ever remember.”
In Friday’s loss, Golden State lost four more players to injuries. Former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green didn’t play, while guard Seth Curry, center Al Horford and center Quinten Post all left the contest early with different aches and strains.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Warriors, and the path ahead won’t get any easier. Golden State will start a six-game road trip on the East Coast this week with games against the Knicks, Wizards, Celtics, Pistons, Hawks and Mavericks. Four of those teams are currently in playoff position and could continue the Warriors’ tailspin.
Funny enough, four of those games are also part of a redemption tour for Kristaps Porzingis, who played in New York, Washington, Boston, Dallas and Atlanta. After being acquired at the trade deadline, Porzingis had his best game yet as a Warrior against the Timberwolves, posting 20 points in the loss.
It’s crucial that the Warriors find a way to keep the ninth spot in the standings or find a way to pass the Los Angeles Clippers, who currently have the eighth spot. In a do-or-die play-in game, the Trail Blazers might be the Warriors’ worst enemy.
Portland has won three of the four games against Golden State this season, despite allowing at least 35 points from Curry in each of the wins.
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