The Golden State Warriors suffered a major setback in their playoff hopes after a crushing loss to the San Antonio Spurs, capped by a late-game dagger from veteran Harrison Barnes. With a win, the Warriors would have climbed to the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings, giving them a slight edge over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. Instead, they dropped to seventh and are now at risk of slipping to eighth, significantly lowering their postseason outlook with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Warriors’ Defeat Alters Tiebreaker Advantage, Now Facing Tough Schedule and Play-in Risk
Despite holding key tiebreakers over both the Timberwolves and Grizzlies, the Warriors’ defeat now places them at a disadvantage in the standings. A three-way tie would have favored Golden State, but Wednesday’s loss pushes them behind the Grizzlies in the loss column and ties them with the Timberwolves.
This one game could have been the difference between securing a first-round home playoff series and being relegated to the uncertainty of the play-in tournament.
Warriors Slip to Seventh After Spurs Loss, Now Facing Play-In Danger With Two Games LeftAdding to the Warriors’ woes is the remaining schedule. While they still have a chance against the Trail Blazers, their final game is against the surging Los Angeles Clippers. In contrast, the Timberwolves face a much easier path, with matchups against the underperforming Nets and Jazz. Had the Warriors defeated the Spurs, they would have been in a much more favorable position and avoided a “must-win” situation in the final game against the Clippers.
Steph Curry Urges Focus as Warriors’ Playoff Destiny Slips From Their Control
Despite the tough situation, team leader Stephen Curry remains optimistic and focused. He emphasized the importance of professionalism and resilience as the team heads into its final two games. Curry encouraged his teammates to concentrate on the task at hand and prove their worth by winning out, reinforcing his belief that a good team takes care of business when it matters most.
The most painful realization for Warriors fans is that, even with two wins to close the season, the team’s playoff fate is no longer entirely in their control. Harrison Barnes’ clutch performance didn’t just derail his former team’s momentum — it also solidified playoff positioning for the Clippers and Nuggets, pushing them out of the play-in danger zone. As the dust settles, Golden State can only hope that things break their way in the standings while they focus on winning the last two games of the season.
