As the 2024-2025 NBA season nears its conclusion, the Golden State Warriors’ journey took a dramatic and heartbreaking turn. What had been a season filled with ups and downs, expectations and frustrations, culminated in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers—a defeat that sent the Warriors into the NBA’s play-in tournament rather than securing a direct spot in the playoffs. This loss highlighted the team’s persistent struggles and brought to the forefront several issues that have been plaguing them all season long. Despite boasting one of the most prolific shooters in NBA history, Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ inability to execute in crucial moments, coupled with inconsistent play and defensive lapses, ultimately cost them a guaranteed postseason berth.
The game was a microcosm of the Warriors’ season: flashes of brilliance from their stars, but an inability to maintain consistency when it mattered most. It was a thrilling contest, but in the end, it was a painful reminder that, despite their legacy and individual brilliance, the Warriors still have many questions to answer as they head into the play-in tournament. In this breakdown, we’ll examine how the game unfolded, the Warriors’ struggles, and what this loss means for their hopes of a deep playoff run.
The Setting: A Crucial Regular-Season Finale
For both the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers, this game had significant implications. The Warriors were vying for a higher playoff seed, hoping to avoid the chaotic and high-stakes play-in tournament. The Clippers, on the other hand, were aiming to lock in their playoff position while keeping the Warriors at bay. The stakes could not have been higher.
At the heart of the matchup was Stephen Curry, whose scoring ability and leadership had carried the Warriors all season. Curry, still widely regarded as one of the best shooters and offensive threats in the league, had been the key to Golden State’s offense. However, the Warriors had been inconsistent throughout the year, struggling to find a reliable second scorer, and their defense had been porous at times. This game would test their ability to rise to the occasion, particularly against a tough, battle-tested Clippers team.
The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard, had been navigating injuries and roster changes but still possessed a formidable group. Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and one of the league’s best two-way players, was the driving force for the Clippers’ success. Alongside him, the team had contributors like Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, and Terance Mann, all of whom could make an impact when needed. With the Clippers needing a win to secure their playoff position, they had everything to play for. Similarly, the Warriors knew that a win would lock them into a better spot in the playoffs, while a loss could result in the dreaded play-in tournament.
The Game: A Thrilling, Hard-Fought Contest
As the game began, both teams came out firing. The Warriors, despite their occasional struggles during the season, still had an explosive offensive game. Curry was immediately in rhythm, hitting deep three-pointers and running the offense with his typical flair. However, the Clippers’ defense proved tough to crack. Leonard was aggressive early, providing a physical presence that the Warriors had trouble matching, while Powell contributed with scoring and playmaking. The first quarter was fast-paced, with both teams exchanging buckets. Curry and Leonard seemed determined to carry their respective teams, but neither could build a decisive lead.
By the second quarter, the Clippers started to impose their will on both ends of the floor. Leonard’s ability to score at will, combined with his defensive prowess, allowed the Clippers to get stops when they needed them most. Meanwhile, the Warriors struggled to find consistent secondary scoring. Klay Thompson, who had been a shell of his former self for much of the season, struggled with his shot, and Jordan Poole, while capable of creating his own offense, was inconsistent. The Clippers built a small lead, but Curry, as always, was unyielding, hitting several clutch shots to keep the Warriors within striking distance.
The game reached its peak intensity in the second half. The Warriors’ offense came alive as Curry continued to hit big shots, but the Clippers responded with an equally impressive offensive display. Norman Powell’s scoring and Ivica Zubac’s presence in the paint gave the Clippers the edge in the battle for control. At times, it seemed like the Warriors could never quite get over the hump. Curry was doing his best to carry the load, but the lack of support from Thompson and Poole was evident.
As the final minutes of regulation approached, the game reached a fever pitch. With under two minutes remaining, the Warriors were down by five, and it seemed like the Clippers were poised to close it out. However, a clutch three-pointer by Curry, followed by a timely steal, gave the Warriors a chance to tie the game. They did just that, forcing the game into overtime with a dramatic last-second shot from Curry—his third three-pointer of the final minutes. The crowd was electric, and both teams knew they were in for a wild ride in the extra period.
Overtime: A Tale of Missed Opportunities
In overtime, the stakes could not have been higher. The Warriors, riding the momentum of their late-game heroics, had the chance to seal the win, but they quickly faltered in crucial moments. Curry, although still scoring efficiently, became the focal point for the Clippers’ defense, and without a reliable second scoring option, the Warriors’ offense stagnated. Thompson, who had missed several key shots throughout the game, could not provide the necessary support. Poole, too, was unable to take over in the way the Warriors needed him to, struggling with his shot selection and decision-making.
On the other hand, the Clippers executed with poise. Leonard continued to show his postseason mettle, delivering clutch shots in the extra period and getting stops when needed. Norman Powell, too, stepped up, knocking down key baskets and helping the Clippers build a slight lead. As the clock wound down, the Warriors’ offensive struggles became too much to overcome. They missed several crucial opportunities, and ultimately, the Clippers secured a hard-fought victory, 118-113.
This loss sealed the Warriors’ fate, ensuring that they would fall into the play-in tournament instead of securing a direct playoff berth. The loss was a tough pill to swallow for Golden State, as it highlighted the glaring weaknesses that had held them back all season long.
The Key Issues: Inconsistent Scoring and Defensive Fragility
While the Warriors’ loss in overtime to the Clippers was a thrilling contest, it also underscored two major issues that have plagued the team throughout the season: their lack of a reliable second scorer and their defensive fragility.
Lack of a Reliable Second Scorer
The Warriors have long been a team built around Stephen Curry’s offensive brilliance, and he continued to shine in this game. However, as has been the case for much of the season, Curry was left to carry the burden of scoring. Klay Thompson, despite his storied past as one of the league’s best shooters, has struggled with consistency. Thompson, who had been out for a few seasons with injury, has yet to return to the level of play that made him one of the league’s elite shooters. His inability to find a consistent rhythm has hurt the Warriors, particularly in close games like this one, where they needed him to step up.
Meanwhile, Jordan Poole, who was expected to take on more of the scoring load in Thompson’s absence, has also been inconsistent. Poole has the talent to be a dynamic scorer, but his shot selection and decision-making have been erratic. This inconsistency makes it difficult for the Warriors to rely on him in high-pressure moments, and as seen in the overtime loss to the Clippers, Poole’s inability to step up in key moments left the Warriors with one-dimensional offensive play.
In the postseason, teams can focus all their attention on Curry, and without a secondary scoring threat, Golden State will continue to struggle. They need Thompson and Poole to find their rhythm, or the Warriors’ championship aspirations will be short-lived.
Defensive Fragility
Throughout the season, the Warriors’ defense has been a significant concern. While they still have one of the best defensive players in the league in Draymond Green, their overall defensive performance has been inconsistent. Green can only do so much on his own, and the team’s perimeter defense has been a liability at times. In the overtime loss to the Clippers, Golden State’s defense was once again a problem. While Curry and Green worked hard to create stops, the Warriors’ lack of consistent effort on that end of the floor allowed Leonard and Powell to break free for critical buckets.
Additionally, the Warriors’ defense in transition was a significant issue, as they struggled to get back and prevent the Clippers from scoring easy baskets. In a playoff series, these kinds of lapses will be more pronounced, and the Warriors will need to improve defensively if they hope to advance.
What’s Next for the Warriors?
With the loss to the Clippers, the Warriors now find themselves in the precarious position of having to compete in the NBA’s play-in tournament to secure a postseason spot. While they still have the talent to advance to the playoffs, they face a tough road ahead. In the play-in tournament, every game is a do-or-die scenario, and the Warriors’ recent struggles suggest that they may not have the consistency to make it through.
The Warriors will need to fix their offensive and defensive issues if they are to make a deep playoff run. For the offense, Thompson and Poole must step up, and the team’s ball movement and spacing need to return to the high level of their championship years. Defensively, Green will have to elevate his game, and the team’s perimeter defense needs to improve dramatically.
Ultimately, the Warriors’ fate rests on their ability to address these weaknesses. If they can, they still have the potential to make a playoff run. But if they continue to struggle with inconsistency, their postseason will be short-lived. For now, the Warriors will need to regroup quickly as they enter the play-in tournament, where every game could be their last.
