For the second time in five games, the Golden State Warriors squandered a late lead, leaving the team and its fans searching for answers. After a heartbreaking 91-90 loss to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night, star guard Steph Curry addressed the troubling trend, signaling that the Warriors have reached a critical juncture in their season.
Curry on the Team’s Identity Crisis
“It’s a team trying to figure out who you are,” Curry told reporters postgame. “What works, what sets we need to be in. Teams are selling out on our standard pick-and-roll, which I usually can make plays out of… If I make that last shot, you might not ask me about the last two possessions. That’s kind of the way the game goes. When you lose, everything is on full display.”
Golden State’s struggles in clutch moments have become a recurring theme this season, and Curry emphasized the need to confront the issue head-on. “The pattern of scoreless droughts down the stretch has to be addressed, or else we’ll be a mediocre team,” he said.
Late-Game Collapse
The Warriors held a six-point lead with just over three minutes left in the game after forward Jonathan Kuminga sank the second of two free throws. But from that moment on, the team was held scoreless, committing three costly turnovers as the Rockets clawed their way back. A loose ball foul called on Kuminga with 3.1 seconds remaining ultimately sealed Golden State’s fate.
Head coach Steve Kerr expressed frustration with the officiating, particularly the late foul on Kuminga. However, Curry took a broader view, choosing not to blame the loss on the referees. “I had a gripe with the officials earlier in the fourth quarter,” Curry admitted. “But any calls made—or not made—weren’t the reason we lost. That’s on us.”
Offensive Woes and Self-Reflection
Instead of focusing on the officiating, Curry honed in on the team’s offensive shortcomings, particularly during critical stretches of the game. “I’ll take responsibility for not being able to get us organized and not being able to finish plays,” Curry said. “The ball’s in my hands. I’ve got to make shots.”
Curry acknowledged that the Warriors need to reevaluate their late-game strategies. “We need to address certain sets that can get us into better shot-creation opportunities,” he explained. “Knowing how teams are going to guard us, especially in the last five minutes, is crucial. We’re talking about it… Experimenting. That’s going to be a defining point of our full season.”
Balancing Optimism with Urgency
Despite the frustrating loss, Curry highlighted a silver lining in the team’s overall level of play. “We’re playing well enough to win most games, so that’s a good sign and a bad sign,” he said. “If we figure it out, we’ll be dangerous. If we don’t, we’re going to continue to hover around mediocrity.”
The loss to Houston underscored the Warriors’ season-long battle with consistency. While flashes of brilliance remain, especially from Curry, the team’s inability to close out games has put them in a precarious position as the season progresses.
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Looking Ahead
Golden State will need to regroup quickly as they look to correct their late-game issues and build momentum. With Curry leading the charge, the Warriors have the tools to address their struggles, but the clock is ticking. As Curry himself put it, “This is going to define our season—whether we figure it out or not.”
For now, the Warriors sit at a crossroads, their season teetering between potential greatness and mediocrity. The outcome will depend on their ability to adapt and execute when it matters most.
