The Golden State Warriors are aiming to avoid the play-in tournament as they push for a spot in the NBA playoffs, but they hit a bump in the road on Wednesday. They suffered a 114-111 loss to the struggling San Antonio Spurs, who won on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Harrison Barnes—a former Warrior. The defeat pushed Golden State down to sixth place in the Western Conference. With a 47-33 record, they entered Thursday tied with the seventh-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. Fortunately for the Warriors, Memphis lost to Minnesota that same day, so Golden State can still clinch a playoff berth without needing the play-in, as long as they win their final two regular-season games. They’ll play the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and then host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
Since acquiring six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster trade two months ago, the Warriors have been on a strong run. They’ve posted a 22-7 record since his arrival and have frequently looked like serious championship contenders again.
Stephen Curry, who struggled earlier in the season, appears to be back in top form, and the team has climbed to third in defensive rating since the All-Star break. Earning a deep playoff run will be tough with a lower seed, but with playoff veterans like Curry, Draymond Green, and Butler, the Warriors are never an easy team to eliminate—and no one will count them out until they’re officially out.
