Sun Dec 01 03:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Warriors Suffer Third Straight Loss as Curry’s Absence Exposes Offensive Flaws

**SAN FRANCISCO** – The Golden State Warriors fell to their third consecutive defeat Wednesday night, losing 96-93 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game highlighted by a late-game offensive drought that underscored the team’s reliance on Stephen Curry. The absence of the injured Curry, who is dealing with left knee bursitis and tendinitis affecting both knees, left a gaping hole in the Warriors’ offense, particularly in crunch time.

Despite a brief surge that saw Kyle Anderson’s and-1 put them ahead with 5:45 remaining, the Warriors were unable to score for over five minutes, a stretch that proved decisive. This offensive collapse, according to Draymond Green, stemmed from poor spacing and a lack of structured plays, leaving individual players to force shots. Green took responsibility for the team’s disjointed final minutes, stating he needed to better control the tempo and get the Warriors into organized sets.

Coach Steve Kerr started a smaller lineup for the first time this season, featuring Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga in the starting five in place of Curry and Trayce Jackson-Davis. While Podziemski (12 points, 5 assists) and Kuminga (team-high 19 points) showed moments of effectiveness, particularly in the second and third quarters, their early struggles contributed to an early double-digit deficit. Kerr acknowledged that he may revert to the larger starting lineup upon Curry’s return.

Kuminga, though expressing contentment with his role regardless of starting position, and Podziemski both showed improvement but were ultimately unable to consistently overcome the Thunder’s tough defense, ranked number one in the NBA. The Warriors now stand at 12-6 on the season. Curry, while having a clean MRI, is expected to sit out at least one more game to recover.

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