The Golden State Warriors’ trying season—and perhaps its championship window as well— came to a screeching halt Tuesday after a 118-94 loss to the host Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Keegan Murray torched the Warriors with 32 points, including eight three-pointers. De’Aaron Fox added 24 points, while Keon Ellis delivered on offense (15 points) and defense (three steals, three blocks).
Not even a little foul trouble for Domantas Sabonis (16 points, 12 rebounds) could stop the Kings from steamrolling the Warriors in the second half, 64-44.
Meanwhile, the Warriors struggled mightily on both ends. Most notably, Klay Thompson went scoreless en route to missing all 10 of his shots.
Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell
Before tonight, Klay Thompson’s worst 0-from-the-field night was a couple of 0-for-2s from 2011 and 2012.
Just a brutal outlier for what might be his final game with the Warriors, going 0-for-10 from the field. pic.twitter.com/tGWeEItRtS
Golden State finished at minus-25 with Andrew Wiggins on the floor. Stephen Curry had a quiet night (22 points) by his standards and committed six turnovers.
Young reserves Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody produced 16 points apiece, but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors bowed out to the team they beat in the first round of the playoffs one season earlier.
The Golden State dynasty appeared over in 2020 when the team, which had won five Western Conference titles and three NBA championships from 2015-2019, fell to a league-worst 15-50 during the pandemic-shortened season.
The Warriors bounced back, though, first with a winning 2020-21 campaign before reclaiming their championship crown in 2021-22 for four titles in eight years.
However, the team hasn’t come close to that success since. A 44-win season last year led to a No. 6 seed in the playoffs and a first-round win over the Kings, but their title hopes ended in the second round to the Los Angeles Lakers.
A seismic offseason move then landed Chris Paul in the Bay Area for Jordan Poole, but it didn’t bring much more success.
This year’s Warriors team hovered around .500 for much of the year but finished with 10 wins in 12 games to go 46-36. That was only good enough for the West’s final play-in spot, though, and the campaign officially ended in Sacramento.
Now it’s fair to wonder if the championship-contending run is truly over for the Curry-Thompson-Draymond Green trio, which has enjoyed so much success over a decade.
Curry is still under contract for two more years and Green for three, but this could be the end in Golden State for Thompson, who is a free agent.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Klay is set to be a free agent this offseason.
End of an era for the Warriors Big 3? 👀 pic.twitter.com/QXE2owvyUD
Regardless of what happens, these Warriors have stamped their mark on NBA history with their tremendous championship runs. However, the next dynasty to go on forever will be the first.
Fans and analysts alike produced two primary reactions on social media during and after the defeat. Many celebrated the dynasty’s presumed end, while others recognized the run’s greatness in real time.
BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 @BasketballOnX
Jusuf Nurkić reaction to the Golden State Warriors getting eliminated.
👀 pic.twitter.com/zOzIKXFo9b
𝓛𝓛💫 @HoodiiBron
Warriors dynasty ending is such a special moment it’s bringing everyone together
Balance has been restored in the universe and it feels so good🥲 pic.twitter.com/J87XE8XYpF
AL in CAL @ALinCALI22
Kings ended the Warriors dynasty tonight pic.twitter.com/PFiLqh69d1
cavan @sincerelycavan
warriors dynasty officially over pic.twitter.com/04rWM4IEOE
Pepé Silvia ⚜️ @SlayYoung23
The Kings will get credit for putting the final nail in their coffin but remember it was the 2023 Lakers who ended this dynasty pic.twitter.com/J6yzEaC2ZP
FanDuel Sportsbook @FDSportsbook
Harrison Barnes ending the Warriors dynasty tonight pic.twitter.com/NpPkPGYAel
Sam Yeezy @samstaydipped
They showing a Warriors dynasty graphic omg it’s over pic.twitter.com/XwqMnjmPJ1
Josiah Johnson @KingJosiah54
Watching the Kings end the Warriors dynasty pic.twitter.com/XPv3oPP801
Molly Morrison @mollyhannahm
watching the warriors dynasty come to an end in real time pic.twitter.com/rgZXypb1Sn
Complex Sports @ComplexSports
The rest of the NBA watching the end of the Warriors dynasty pic.twitter.com/Se6kE9zMmP
LakeShowYo @LakeShowYo
society now that the Warriors dynasty is over pic.twitter.com/9aJ5WwGKKx
NBACentral @TheDunkCentral
It was a great run. One of the best dynasties of all time. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/qZ9B47hfVh
The Athletic @TheAthletic
End of an era?
◽️️12 seasons
◽️️Four NBA Titles 🏆
◽️️Historic 73-9 record
◽️️Combined 19 All-Star appearances
Is this the last time we see Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the same uniform? pic.twitter.com/gpcOAsPzoq
30🅿️roblemz @30problemz
Steph Curry carrying the Warriors to the 2022 NBA championship is the most impressive ring of all time. pic.twitter.com/kwXRKBSMZj
Brian @BkcSports
That is some salary cap hell the Warriors are in.
The rest of the NBA will be dancing on their graves.
But from the Warriors’ perspective, 4 championship rings in a decade sure seems worth it. https://t.co/BjfT034Gnp
Coliseum Sewage @ColiseumSewage
Sad ending to Warriors season. Fun team for years. My dog is chill during fireworks bc when he was a pup the W’s won the championship in ’15. Went for a walk as the town erupted in 🎆🎇, gave him a treat for every loud boom, ~500 treats🐶. He likes fireworks bc of the Warriors.
Ashley Nicole Moss @AshNicoleMoss
one of the greatest dynasties this sport has ever seen. it’s been a privilege 🥹 @warriors
As for the Kings, they’ll head to New Orleans for a play-in game against the Pelicans on Friday, with the winner earning the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed and facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 1.
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