The playoffs unofficially started for the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. The Warriors hosted the LA Clippers in a matchup with playoff-like implications attached to it. To put it simply, win and secure a place directly into the playoffs, or lose and drop to the play-in tournament. What followed was one of the most thrilling games we’ve seen this season. Stephen Curry and Co. battled it out with a James Harden and Kawhi Leonard-led Clippers team. Unfortunately, any thrilling game has its winners and losers, and Golden State was on the wrong end of the results. The Warriors fell short in overtime, losing a hard-fought game 121-119, and dropped to the 7th seed. After this agonizing loss, it’s obvious for a team to be disheartened, but somehow, that wasn’t the case with the Warriors.
The Warriors could’ve secured a blockbuster matchup with the Lakers with the win but were not able to do so. On the contrary, they’ll now lock horns with the Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says Golden State’s players are satisfied with how things have worked out for Stephen Curry and Co. “I appreciate him saying that because that’s how I think probably some of their players are feeling. They may not say that. I will say, though, the reason that they’re in the play and is because Houston came in last week and beat them in Golden State. So, you know, the Rockets will have, you know, a lot of confidence in that game, but yes, the Thunder and the Rockets are unproven that the players in this tournament with the rings are in the back half of the, of the draw. So, obviously, the Warriors are a team that has rings; they believe in it.” Windhorst said.
Windhorst believes that the mood in the Golden State locker room is one of relief rather than disappointment. His point is that the Lakers are a tough matchup, especially with both Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading LA. On the flip side, this defeat has given the Warriors a chance to match up against the 2nd seeded Rockets team. Now, by no means is Houston an easy matchup, but they aren’t as battle-hardened as LeBron James’s Lakers. According to Windhorst, while the Golden State players might not say it, they’d fancy their chances going up against Houston than Los Angeles.
Apr 11, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) watches during introductions before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images.
Additionally, the Warriors are a seasoned team and have veteran talents like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, who know how to get the job done in the postseason. This will give them a massive advantage over the Rockets. However, for that, they must first overcome the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Steve Kerr’s men will face a disgruntled Memphis team with interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo at the helm. The Grizzlies haven’t been themselves lately and have dropped massively. So, it’s a game the Warriors should be able to win, unlike their game against the Clippers. However, they might face massive problems as they gear up for this battle at the Chase Center.
Golden State Warriors face massive problems before Memphis clash
If you thought losing a must-win game after securing a lead wasn’t concerning enough, the Warriors now face even more concerns. They were involved in an intense playoff-like game and came out empty-handed. On top of that, they might now miss a couple of their key players for the play-in game, which is just 48 hours away. Brian Windhorst used just two words to describe the Warriors’ situation: “Not ideal.” The ESPN journalist thinks that Golden State might be in some trouble due to fitness concerns. The Warriors might just have compromised their play-in chances with both Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler injured.
.@WindhorstESPN says the Warriors’ loss to the Clippers was “not ideal” for Golden State’s title hopes.
“Not ideal to see Draymond Green try to hunt a foul when you’re down by two in overtime.” pic.twitter.com/jlcluFuiHg
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 14, 2025
“Not ideal, not ideal to see Draymond Green try to hunt a foul when you’re down by two in overtime. Not ideal to have Jimmy Butler play 48 minutes in this game and then suffer a contusion. We’ll see how he feels. He said after the game he’d play, but let’s see how effective he can be. You’ve already got Steph Curry dealing with a thumb injury, and now you’ve got to come back in 48 hours.” Windhorst stated. It has been happening for the past 24 hours for the Warriors, unfortunately, not in a good way. Firstly, Stephen Curry was already playing with a thumb injury that seems to have taken a toll on the Warriors’ point guard.
Curry did have a great night, finishing with 36 points on 10-of-20 from the field. But he did give away a few turnovers, and that might’ve been a result of him suffering from an injury. On the other hand, Jimmy Butler suffered a painful leg contusion during the game. He was seen hopping in pain after the play. Even though he said that he’s fine, it’s a concerning matter. The Dubs faithful will hope that nothing serious has happened to either of their superstars as they look to book their tickets to the playoffs on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how they approach the play-in against Memphis as we watch closely.
The post Warriors Locker Room in Unusual State as Stephen Curry & Jimmy Butler Concerns Mount Before Grizzlies Play-In appeared first on EssentiallySports.
