In today’s Dub Hub:
- Steve Kerr acknowledges Warriors are bound for the Play-In Tournament after 120–99 loss to the Celtics.
- Steph Curry gets shots up during pregame in Boston, to be re-evaluated on Saturday according to Steve Kerr.
- Pistons’ Cade Cunningham diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an “extended period of time,” per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn’t hold back after the team’s 120–99 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. He said the group wasn’t prepared and failed to execute the game plan in what turned into an uncompetitive, 20-point blowout. But beyond the loss itself, Kerr was also honest about where the team’s playoff hopes stand moving forward.
Wednesday’s loss dropped the Warriors to 33–36 on the season. They slipped to the 10th seed in the Western Conference behind the Portland Trail Blazers but still have a sizable lead over the 11th-seeded Memphis Grizzlies (24-44), further reinforcing that Golden State will likely be headed toward the Play-In Tournament for the third year in a row.
Coming into the season, the goal was to avoid this exact scenario by securing a top-six seed. But injuries to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler have reshaped the Warriors’ trajectory. Now, with just 13 games remaining, the focus has shifted to building good habits in hopes of being ready for an all-or-nothing playoff push once Curry returns.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, March 19th:
Warriors News:
Steve Kerr says Warriors know they are bound for play-in | ESPN
The LA Clippers, currently eighth, have lost three consecutive games, leaving the door cracked. The Warriors are one game back and face the Clippers on the last day of the regular season.
But that’s still nearly four weeks away. In the meantime, Kerr is asking for the team to build better habits ahead of Curry’s return, but its ultimate fate is essentially determined.
“We know it doesn’t matter if we win 13 games or we lose 13 games,” forward Gui Santos said. “We’re going to be playing [in the play-in].”
What we learned as Celtics blow out Warriors to spoil Kristaps Porziņģis’ return | NBC Sports Bay Area
Tatum now has played six games and has three double-doubles after dropping 24 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Again, silver linings matter in a lost season for the Warriors.
Curry went through a strong individual workout each of the past two days, and Butler is taking his rehab head-on while competing against himself every day. If Tatum can help lead the Celtics to another championship, Butler and others coming back from injuries will turn to him as their lead example.
Steph Curry gets shots up pregame in Boston
NBA News:
Sources: Bucks want to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo for season | ESPN
The Bucks did not provide a timeline for Antetokounmpo’s return, but sources told Charania that he would miss at least a week because of a hyperextension and a bone bruise in the knee.
The sides had multiple meetings over the last 24 hours, but Antetokounmpo has remained adamant about returning to the court this season, feeling as long as he’s not risking any further injury, sources told ESPN.
Pistons’ Cade Cunningham expected to miss an ‘extended period of time’ due to a collapsed lung
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum lead Celtics to blowout over shorthanded Warriors
The Golden State Warriors had their work cut out for them on Wednesday night. They headed to New England for their third consecutive road game. They were facing a Boston Celtics squad that was one of the best in the NBA even before recently welcoming Jayson Tatum back into the fold. And, despite being a little healthier than in recent games, they were still at a distinct health disadvantage.
All of which left them at a distinct talent disadvantage. And while the Dubs put up a fight, that gap in available talent showed itself on the scoreboard, where the Warriors lost 120-99.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
