The Warriors reminded fans how mediocre and frustrating they are without Jimmy Butler.
The Golden State Warriors embarrassed themselves in a 126-119 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Dubs had to play their first game without Jimmy Butler since they acquired the six-time All-Star at the deadline. Butler was sidelined with back spasms and is listed as day-to-day. With an upcoming back-to-back on this road trip, the Dubs may have greater incentive to sit Butler in at least one of those games.
It did not take long for the Warriors to revert to the pre-Butler mediocrity that defined most of their season. They got off to a slow start offensively as Steph Curry faced some of the most concentrated defensive attention he’s seen since the trade. Eventually, Curry got going offensively, helped out by rookie Quentin Post. Curry scored or assisted on 21 of the Warriors 30 first-quarter points.
Curry did a commendable job carrying Golden State’s offense, and received little scoring help from his teammates. Facing a weakened 76ers lineup, the Dubs effectively neutralized Paul George and Tyrese Maxey for most of the game. Normally, that might have been enough for the Warriors to control the game.
Except for Quentin Grimes.
Grimes had the best game of his career on Saturday night. The trade deadline acquisition from Dallas (I hear they had a tough deadline) started the game 10-for-12 from the field (5-for-5 from three) and had a career-high 38 points before the end of the third quarter. Former Warrior Kelly Oubre was particularly effective offensively in the first half as well, finishing the game with 20 points.
Grimes cooled off a bit late in the third quarter. The Warriors offense remained inefficient, particularly with Curry off the floor, but was able to generate plenty of second-chance opportunities to remain within striking distance. Draymond Green, who was held scoreless in the first half, was also far more aggressive, scoring 11 points.
As the Warriors cut into the 76ers lead early in the fourth quarter, George made back-to-back threes to give them some breathing room. However, the Warriors forced three straight steals that turned into uncontested dunk (including Curry’s first in-game dunk in six years) and fueled a 9-0 run. A few possessions later, Gary Payton II would convert a second-chance opportunity and tie things up at 112.
A back-and-fourth left things tied at 116 with two minutes left in regulation. However, another bucket from Grimes put Philly ahead. Moses Moody missed a layup, which turned into a transition three for Guerschon Yabusele, who finished 5-for-7 from three. Just like that the 76ers were ahead 121-116.
After a timeout by Steve Kerr, an and-one by Gui Santos cut the deficit to two. Santos and Payton were the two biggest beneficiaries of the defensive focus on Curry. They combined to score 29 points on 13-for-19 shooting from the field.
Just as the Warriors were getting some momentum, though, Green made a costly defensive mistake and fouled Grimes on a three-point attempt. Making matters worse, Green dramatically told Kerr to use his challenge (and last timeout) on an obvious foul. The Warriors benefited from a peculiar free-throw issue by Grimes (who missed six of seven free throws) but a loose ball was ruled off the Warriors, who didn’t have a challenge to get it overturned.
The Warriors defense stayed strong, and got another stop, but this time the Sixers used a challenge to overturn the call and get another opportunity. George capitalized with a highly-contested fadeaway to put the game out of reach.
Curry’s offensive force was obvious all game long. The Dubs had nothing going offensively with him on the bench, and he recorded 29 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the field with 13 assists (he should have had a few more). Yet, as was the case for much of the year, the Warriors supporting cast is simply too erratic and inconsistent to make the game as easy as it should be.
Now the Warriors head into a back-to-back and have given the Clippers and Mavericks a path to regain control over them in the standings.