With a 24-point lead in the first half on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors looked to be cruising toward a win over the Sacramento Kings and a ticket to the knockout stage of the in-season tournament.
However, the second half told a different story.
Although the Warriors still controlled the game for most of the half, fouls and turnovers cracked the door open for De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and the Kings.
As the Warriors piled up fouls, the Kings did damage at the line, racking up 19 points on 30 attempts from the line. With the Warriors needing a win by 12 or more points to punch a ticket to the next round of the in-season tournament, the Kings quietly started to mount a late comeback.
With their lead dwindling, and the Warriors clinging to a four-point lead, Steph Curry and Draymond Green each dished a costly turnover and the Kings took advantage.
After hitting a 3 to cut Golden State’s lead to one, Monk came through clutch again with a circus shot that fell with seven seconds remaining to steal the game in favor of Sacramento, 124-123.
With their collapse in Sacramento, the Warriors were eliminated from the NBA’s first in-season tournament in group play.
After the Warriors’ rough loss against the Kings, the NBA community on X, formerly Twitter, erupted with reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Tuesday evening on social media.
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that loss is 100% on the team man
everything about them is uninspiring to watch. same game plan every night— Chris Montano (@gswchris) November 29, 2023
Warriors total 19 points on 6-for-22 shooting in the fourth quarter
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 29, 2023
Worst night of a horrible stretch for the Warriors.
*Blow a 24-point lead
*Chris Paul, Gary Payton II leave with injuries
*Kerr goes away from Moody while he was on a heater
*Two Curry/Draymond turnovers in final minute give Kings life
*Lose 4th quarter 29-19
*Record: 8-10— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 29, 2023
warriors really choked that so bad
everybody on that roster, coaching staff should feel absolutely embarrassed rn
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) November 29, 2023
And the Warriors choke it
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 29, 2023
Two bad passes at the worst time from Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the final minute. Kings have the ball only down one. Steve Kerr opted for his veteran starters to close and it's getting shaky. Went away from Moses Moody, who has scored 11 of 19 fourth quarter points.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 29, 2023
Rough end of quarters sequences tonight:
2Q: Can hold for final shot, Steph Turnover, Kings layup.
3Q: Can hold for final shot, Klay fires up quick 3 and misses. Kings split FTs
4Q: Final 60 seconds, back to back turnovers. Goodnight.
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) November 29, 2023
The Warriors used to win the mental game against teams. Now they’re the ones getting played. Sad sight. Another sign of a washed up group. https://t.co/PbN5mcRlwl
— Shohei Ohtani Stan Account (@AndyKHLiu) November 29, 2023
Blew a 24-point lead. The @MorningRoast957 is going to be electric…
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) November 29, 2023
Comedy https://t.co/2ha8DTTnhW pic.twitter.com/dnhLMHVIfZ
— Eddie Gonzalez (@bansky) November 29, 2023
Kuminga was bad tonight, no denying that. I have seen so many play scared and thats where he is right now…petrified to make mistakes- it kills confidence! Its time they trade him or he requests one b/c he wont get the opportunity, freedom to grow or reps on this team.
— Tony F (@tfracs) November 29, 2023
Moses Moody in his last two games is a perfect 8 of 8 from the field and 4 of 4 on 3-pointers
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) November 29, 2023
Moody gotta be wondering what he’s gotta do to stay on the floor.
Makes a mistake, sub out.
Playing well? sub out
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) November 29, 2023
Warriors/Kings games are nonstop bangers.
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) November 29, 2023
Tonight and the OKC OT loss, both absolutely inexcusable. 11 days apart.
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) November 29, 2023
Getting pulled right after this sequence is asinine by Kerr. pic.twitter.com/B3ULnjkfWl
— THEGODFRESCO 🏁 (@GSDOUBLEU) November 29, 2023
They held Fox/Sabonis to 38pts combined.
Inexcusable to lose that game
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) November 29, 2023
MALIK MONK CALLED GAME.
KINGS WIN THE GAME AND WEST GROUP C 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GdQ0XW9iit
— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2023
Fundamentally, here’s the problem – the Warriors are a knife’s edge basketball team infected by the disease of more. And their veteran core, lauded for so long for sacrificing for each other, can’t seem to do that anymore. Their coach can’t coach them. This is untenable.
— Vignesh Venkataraman (@Viggyfresh) November 29, 2023
Klay Thompson in the first half: 17 minutes, 17 points, 5 of 9 from the field, 3 of 6 from deep
Klay Thompson in the second half: 19 minutes, 3 points, 1 of 5 from the field, 0 of 3 from deep
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) November 29, 2023
Steve Kerr: “We’re not in a freefall.” pic.twitter.com/0vAqZO3Nh8
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 29, 2023
The 24-point blown lead was tied for the biggest by the Warriors since start of 1999-2000 season. They also blew a 24 point lead in 128-119 loss to Grizzlies 1/6/2017
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) November 29, 2023
Just a horrific loss on so many levels. Maybe one day we can let a young player close a game or stay in while they are THE ONLY IN RHYTHM player feeling it in 2H. Something has to give personnel wise/minute allocation or you are in that frustration “forever giant” territory
— Joe Shasky (@ButcherBoy415) November 29, 2023
