Heading into Saturday night’s game, the Golden State Warriors were favorites to defeat the Indiana Pacers. Led by Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors were facing a previously 0-5 Pacers team that had been ravaged by injuries. Despite being favored to win, Golden State ended up falling to Indiana by a final score of 114-109.
Curry led the way in scoring for the Warriors with 24 points, but shot just 8-for-23 from the floor. Butler contributed 20 points, along with seven assists, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
On the other side of the court, Indiana saw standout performances from Aaron Nesmith, who scored 31 points, Pascal Siakam with 27 points, and Quenton Jackson, who added 25 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
It was a sobering loss for the Warriors, who now drop to 4-3 on the season. Following the game, Butler expressed his frustration clearly, putting his team on blast. “We’ve got to get back to playing our roles to a T,” Butler said. “Giving a damn whenever we turn it over. Giving a damn whenever our man scores. We guard as a team, we score as a team, everybody’s got to be on the same page. I think we’ve gotten away from that a little bit.”
Adding insult to injury for Golden State was the fact that the Pacers were missing several key players due to injuries. Among those sidelined were Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, Kam Jones, T.J. McConnell, and Tyrese Haliburton.
For Golden State, this game represents a huge opportunity to get back on track. Losing to a team like Indiana, which was missing many key players, can serve as a turning point. There is no doubt the Warriors are talented enough to be true contenders in the Western Conference.
Hopefully, Butler and company can right the ship. They shouldn’t lose games like this, but it gives them a chance to identify and address issues early in the season.
Next up for Golden State is a home matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/jimmy-butler-puts-golden-state-warriors-on-blast-loss-pacers-10978644