The clock struck midnight on the Golden State Warriors' pursuit of an NBA Finals win when they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, 121-110.
Some may feel that the Warriors never got a fair shot after Stephen Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
It was rumored that Curry could've returned if the Warriors had managed to extend the series to Game 6, but it's nothing more than a hypothetical now.
Stephen Curry sends Jimmy Butler message
The Warriors faced an uphill climb on their way to the second round of the playoffs. After acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, the Warriors had to treat every game as do-or-die to make the playoffs.
They initially fell short of the playoffs but got in as the No. 7 seed after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Curry got the chance to detail how good of a duo he and Butler were this season, and has high hopes for the future.
"There was a lot of chatter of whether it was the right trade...From the first game in Chicago to last night, it was a seamless fit," Curry said. "(We) complement each other so well. He gave us so much belief...It was a success. Now you have to build off that."
Butler did his best to accommodate for Curry's absence, but missing arguably the greatest shooter of all time proved to be too much to overcome.
The Warriors will have some decisions to make in the offseason. While Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green's core will remain intact through 2027, the supporting cast will need to be addressed.
Jonathan Kuminga becomes a restricted free agent, and a sign-and-trade involving him could be the best chance Golden State has at bolstering its roster.