Category: NBA

Nets star Cam Thomas suffered a left hamstring strain during Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. 

The team announced Saturday that given the number of days left in the schedule and the time it would take to work his way back to full health, the 23-year-old is expected to be out the remainder of the season. 

This is Thomas’ third hamstring ailment this year -- limiting him to just 25 games.

He has, however, remained a scoring machine when healthy -- averaging a career-high 24 points over that span while putting together a team-leading six 30+ point showings, including a season-high 43 points on Nov. 15 against the Knicks. 

He notched his first career double-double in his final game of the year (24 points, 10 assists). 

It’ll be interesting to see how the rebuilding Nets handle things with Thomas this offseason, as he is currently in the final year of his rookie deal and is set to be a restricted free agent at season's end. 

He appeared to be headed for a big payday coming into this year, but we’ll see if the injury-plagued season affects that.

Inside a locker room, geography matters and Friday night in Denver, Austin Reaves was in the big seat.

Using the space typically assigned to LeBron James inside the Nuggets’ visiting locker room, Reaves sat closest to the showers, players passing him on their way in and out after they’d fumbled a chance to stun Denver.

Cam Reddish, Christian Koloko, Jordan Goodwin — each one passed by the space only to briefly stop and get a quick word of encouragement from the lone Lakers starter who played Friday night.

They were fully under the watch of Reaves, the unquestioned third member of the Lakers’ big three who nearly carried his team minus James and Luka Doncic to a win in Denver on the second night of a back-to-back minus 60% of its 10-man rotation.

Read more:Austin Reaves' 37-point effort not enough as Lakers fall to Denver in wild finish

But his 37 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and four steals weren’t enough — numbers so special that they’ve been accomplished only seven other times, Reaves joining Doncic, James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Bernard King and Kenny Anderson as the select few to have done it.

Earlier this year, minus James and Doncic, Reaves scored 45 points with seven rebounds and seven assists, numbers equaled only 25 times in Lakers history by a list of the organization’s greats. Elgin Baylor did it 10 times. Kobe Bryant did it six. Jerry West had at least 45-7-7 four times. Magic Johnson did it once. And then there’s Reaves.

“Looks weird when you see my name up there,” Reaves said after that game against the Indiana Pacers.

Maybe it’s time to stop being so surprised.

For what it’s worth, Reaves isn’t that shocked, having been confident enough to tell people around him he was going to matter for the Lakers as an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract after one day of minicamp.

“I’ve weirdly been confident for a long time,” Reaves said Friday night, his feet and ankles soaking in ice. “It’s just being on the stage for the world to see. But I tell you all the time, I just try to play the game the right way. And when shots fall, it looks good. And when shots don’t fall, everybody’s ready to kill me. Everybody in the locker room did what they had to do to win. And unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”

The Lakers, in all honestly, probably should have.

They led by three in the final minute after back-to-back steals by Reaves led to transition points, starting with one in which he ripped the ball away from annual most valuable player candidate Nikola Jokic.

The second steal led to a Dalton Knecht dunk, with Knecht landing scarily on his back and head after he lost his grip and slipped off the rim. JJ Redick ran to check on Knecht as Denver called timeout and was late back into his huddle.

The Nuggets came out and attacked Koloko, who rarely plays, Jokic quickly scoring and drawing a foul to tie the game.

“I didn’t have time to really get us the right substitutions and matchups that I would have wanted,” Redick said. “And that’s not a knock on CK, but I just kind of put him in a tough spot knowing that Jokic was going to go quick.”

After Reaves’ jumper rimmed out, Denver created an open Jamal Murray three off a screen from Jokic, and like he’s done multiple times before, the Denver guard hit the game’s biggest shot.

“Losing sucks,” Reaves said. “But I’m happy with what these guys in the locker room did tonight.”

As the Lakers head back to Los Angeles on a four-game losing streak, Reaves’ last two games are one of the few slivers of encouragement after the 26-year-old-guard shook off any rust from a two-game absence because of a calf strain this month. He’s also been dealing with right wrist pain and wore a large ice pack on his shooting arm after he scored 28 against Milwaukee on Thursday.

Friday, James was courtside in Sacramento watching his son Bryce and Sierra Canyon win a state title while he recovers from a groin strain. Starters Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura also were not with the team because of knee injuries. Doncic, who scored 45 against the Bucks, didn’t play because of calf and ankle injury management. Key bench players Gabe Vincent (knee) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) also sat out.

Reaves acknowledged all the absences left him wondering whether he should get one too, with only James having played more minutes for the Lakers this season.

“They told me to go play, so I go play,” Reaves said afterward.

If the Lakers were Reaves’ team Friday, that isn’t expected be the case much longer. The trade for Doncic ensured he’d be the team’s primary creator for the remainder of his contract — and beyond, if the Lakers can keep him. James also will be back to dominate possessions as he’s having an All-NBA-type season, meaning Reaves will be taking a step back and tasked with making the biggest adjustment of the three.

Reaves is a critical part of all that, and finding lanes for him to lead like this — whether he’s in the big seat or not — is a major task for the final month of the regular season.

“Austin has done a great job throughout his career of just like figuring it out. And you don’t always figure it out in a week or a month,” Redick said before Thursday’s game, adding: “There’s a lot of stuff that has happened over the last six weeks. He’s been phenomenal this season. We have a lot of confidence in him as a player. We have a lot of confidence in the duo of him and Luca together. And X-and-O-wise, he’s going to play on ball. He’s going to play off ball. We’ll have a ton of opportunities once we get LeBron back. Those two guys have such great synergy and chemistry. They’re incredibly intelligent players and really understand how to play off of each other.

“And then, I think you’ve seen it when we’ve been whole, the guys have really learned how to play with Luka. And we’ve gotten some good stuff when we’ve been organized.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Why Draymond vs. KAT matchup is key to Warriors-Knicks outcome originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When the Warriors and Knicks met 11 days ago in New York, New York forward Karl-Anthony Towns was declared out for personal reasons, which prompted a baseless and inappropriate reaction from Golden State forward Draymond Green.

Draymond implied on his weekly podcast that Towns was dodging Warriors forward Jimmy Butler, Towns’ teammate when they were on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The truth? The 7-footer was away to attend a memorial service.

Green’s disrespect for Towns is part of the backdrop Saturday when the teams meet at Chase Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:35. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4:30 with Warriors Pregame Live, with Warriors Postgame Live immediately following the ABC telecast.

Both players say they have moved on, but this is the first time this season that they will share the court. Green, as in the past, will be the primary defender on Towns, who is in the absence of guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) is New York’s top scorer, at 24.2 points per game, on 54.2 percent shooting from the field, including 42.2 from deep.

Towns, who over his nine-year career averages 22.2 points per game against Green (per statmuse.com), considers himself the best-shooting big man in the NBA. Draymond considers himself the best all-around defender in the league.

Defending KAT is crucial, as he the most efficient scorer on New York’s roster that includes Mikal Bridges (17.5 ppg), OG Anunoby (16.6) and Josh Hart (14.5). Miles McBride, who is replacing Brunson in the starting lineup, is averaging 9.2 points per game – but posted a career-high 29 points at Chase last season.

With Towns bearing an additional scoring burden, and Green, five inches shorter, will have to avoid foul trouble to have a chance to meet that task.

It’s reasonable to believe ego and pride will get involved. Towns chose not to respond to Green’s comments, but Hart spoke up on his behalf.

“I think KAT handled it the right way,” Hart told the New York Post on Friday. “For me, I have my own podcast and all that stuff. Whenever I’m wrong about something, I’ll sit there and say I was (wrong). I wish he kind of did that. Just apologized.”

Draymond, once presented with the facts, did offer a tepid apology.

But that wasn’t the first time he disparaged KAT, so don’t expect him to be anything other than his usual assertive self when they meet on Saturday.

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Lakers coach JJ Redick lately has repeated a lyric from an old Jay-Z song: “It was all good just a week ago."

Entering Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets, things were not good for the Lakers. They entered on a three-game losing streak. They were down three starters in LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. A fourth, Luka Doncic, was sitting out on the second night of a back-to-back. Two more key rotation players, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent, also were unavailable as they managed long-term injuries.

A week ago the Lakers were mostly healthy, flying to Boston on an eight-game winning streak. A week ago they were climbing the standings, not sliding.

Read more:Luka Doncic's 45 points can't save Lakers from third straight loss, but hope lies ahead

But even if the personnel didn’t mirror the Lakers of a week ago, at least the energy did Friday, the team pushing the Nuggets over four quarters before making one too many mistakes in a 131-126 loss.

“I’m proud of the group for the level of fight and resiliency,” Redick said.

Nuggets stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic ran a pick and roll, opening up Murray for a clean look at a three-pointer with 5.6 seconds left. Like he has so many times against the Lakers, the point guard hit the big shot.

Austin Reaves, who capped his rookie season with a 31-point triple-double in Denver, nearly led the Lakers (40-25) to the upset, scoring 37 along with 13 assists and eight rebounds. Dalton Knecht, starting near his hometown, had his most points since mid-November with 32, and Shake Milton scored 16 off the bench.

Knecht scored his final two points on a dunk and landed awkwardly on his back and head. He was able to stay in the game.

“I told him in the huddle, I said, 'Hey, if you want to shoot it, shoot it. I don't care if you shoot it 35 times, we're going to need every bucket you can get,'” Reaves told Knecht. “So he's a hooper.”

Read more:Lakers newsletter: What's going on with all the Lakers' injuries?

The Lakers led by three in the final minute before a Jokic three-point play and Murray’s triple. All five starters scored in double figures for Denver (43-24).

Reaves, who had to ice his right wrist after the Lakers’ loss in Milwaukee on Thursday, said he wasn't sure he'd play, but ultimately the chance to compete carried him.

“We know when we're full healthy and got everybody on the team that we have a really good chance to beat anybody," Reaves said. "I just see this group, coming together, locking in on one common goal and that's to win. And tonight I think is the biggest testament to that. Very shorthanded and went and played a really good basketball team with probably the best player in the world. And went toe to toe and had an opportunity to win it and just didn't execute the last 50 seconds.”

He played 39 minutes.

“Certainly asked a lot of him on the second night of a back-to-back, not just the 40 minutes, but just the vast majority of playmaking duties,” Redick said. “And I thought he did an outstanding job.”

The Lakers had a chance to force overtime but they couldn’t get the inbounds pass to Reaves, with Russell Westbrook getting the steal and dunking in the final seconds.

Before the game Redick again sounded optimistic about the Lakers getting more help over the next week, when the team plays five games in Los Angeles, including a pair of back-to-backs Sunday and Monday and Wednesday and Thursday to wrap a stretch in which they’ll play six times in eight days.

The Lakers are the first team since 2022 to have six games in eight days, playing a makeup of a game with the San Antonio Spurs that was postponed during the wildfires in January.

They head back to L.A. on a season-worst four-game losing streak, with full health still some time away.

“We went 0-4, so it's a pretty bad trip. But ... JJ said, ‘A week ago, everybody's like Lakers in five.' So we just don't listen to any of it,” Reaves said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Knicks are in the Bay Area to take on the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in what will be the final game of their five-game West Coast road trip. While the game itself is enough for NBA fans to want to tune in, the controversy surrounding Draymond Green and his comments about Karl-Anthony Towns has added a layer of intrigue to the matchup.

The outspoken Warriors forward made news when he suggested Towns did not want to play Golden State when the two teams matched up last week at The Garden. On his podcast, Green said Towns wanted to avoid Jimmy Butler.

Of course, Towns missed that game due to the loss of a family friend. When Green was asked about his comments after Golden State's game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 7, Green was surprised and offered condolences but didn’t apologize for his baseless accusation.

Josh Hart was asked about Green’s comments Friday and said the team is ready to move on, but wishes the former Defensive Player of the Year was more responsible. 

“I think KAT handled it the right way,” Hart told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “For me, I have my own podcast and all that stuff. Whenever I’m wrong about something, I’ll sit there and say I was (wrong). For me, I wish he kind of did that - just apologized. You don’t got to be embarrassed or feel like apologizing is when you’re wrong isn’t manly. I wish he did. Now that’s in the past and we’re moving on.”

Bondy asked Towns earlier this week for his reaction, and the first-year Knick stayed positive.

“I choose to approach that with love and not hate. That’s all I really care about,” Towns said. “I hope no one has to go through what I went through and those kids—and what those kids had to go through. Losing a parent is tough."

The Knicks enter Saturday’s matchup with a 2-2 record on the road trip and hope to finish it on a high note without their captain, Jalen Brunson who is out for a few weeks due to an ankle sprain. Entering Friday, the Knicks (42-23) sit five games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Draymond Green suggests on his podcast that Karl-Anthony Towns missed Tuesday’s game vs GSW because he wanted to avoid Jimmy Butler. Green casually throwing this out there on his platform without researching the situation is extremely irresponsible: pic.twitter.com/UkUpMp2111

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 6, 2025

Mazzulla praises ‘overlooked' Holiday after big night vs. Heat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jrue Holiday may not be the first, second, third, or even fourth player who comes to mind when thinking about the Boston Celtics’ star-studded roster. Still, the All-Defensive guard is a crucial part of the C’s championship formula.

Holiday provided a firm reminder of that in Friday’s 103-91 victory over the Miami Heat, battling through his right-hand mallet finger injury to deliver a season-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. He also contributed four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal in a stellar two-way performance.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla heaped praise on Holiday after the win. When asked about the 34-year-old veteran’s impact being “kind of” overlooked, Mazzulla issued a correction.

“It’s not ‘kind of.’ It is overlooked,” Mazzulla said. “But it’s overlooked because that’s just the type of person that he is, and it’s also just the type of teammate that he is, that he’ll do whatever it takes to win for his team.

“Tonight, the ball found him early and I’m glad he was aggressive and then he was able to build through that. I thought he made some timely plays and some big-time plays. I’m really happy for him because he does get overlooked at times, but we’re really grateful to have him.”

Holiday has never been flashy or outspoken, but he has been among the most consistent two-way players since entering the league in 2009. The two-time NBA champion continues to lead by example in Boston, most recently by battling through a finger injury that forced him to miss several games.

“I’m doing the best I can. Today was a good day,” Holiday told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin. “Sometimes on the catch, it feels weird, but there’s no excuses out here. They don’t care that my finger’s broken or I have mallet finger. Just trying to come out here every game and focus and try to lock in.”

Holiday stepped up with Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined. The Celtics will hope to have the duo back in the starting lineup when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday for the second night of their back-to-back.

Tip-off for C’s-Nets is set for 6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

3 observations after 8-man Sixers build surprising lead but lose to Pacers  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers just about fielded a team Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.

They even built a significant lead over the Pacers before falling to another expected loss. Indiana came back for a 112-100 victory and improved to 37-28. The Sixers dipped to 22-44.

Jeff Dowtin Jr. tallied a career-best 24 points. Pacers star Pascal Siakam scored 27.

The Sixers were as shorthanded as you can get while still being allowed to play a game. They had more players out than available Friday. The full list is below: 

• Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain and right finger sprain) 
• Quentin Grimes (illness) 
• Lonnie Walker IV (concussion) 
• Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee sprain) 
• Andre Drummond (left toe sprain) 
• Justin Edwards (left ankle sprain) 
• Paul George (left groin soreness) 
• Kyle Lowry (right hip injury) 
• Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury) 
• Eric Gordon (season-ending right wrist surgery) 
• Jared McCain (season-ending left lateral meniscus surgery) 

The Sixers will begin a six-road road trip Sunday afternoon against the Mavericks. Here are observations on their loss to the Pacers: 

Dowtin up for his 1st start 

Dowtin started for the first time in his NBA career and opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper. 

The Sixers’ highly makeshift lineup was better than the Pacers’ established unit, earning a surprising early lead.

Indiana missed some open jumpers, but the Sixers defended solidly and effectively varied their coverages. The Sixers also didn’t give the Pacers easy points at the foul line, which was especially important given the terribly undermanned state of the team. 

Dowtin maintained the momentum from his 20-point performance Wednesday in the Sixers’ loss to the Raptors. He reached his fifth consecutive double-digit scoring game with a patient, crafty turnaround bucket late in the first quarter. Dowtin played the entire quarter and made his first seven field goals. Thanks largely to his efforts, the Sixers led by as many as 12 points in the first period. 

Bona shines in 2nd quarter  

The Sixers had two debutants in two-way contract player Jalen Hood-Schifino and fresh 10-day contract signee Oshae Brissett. Alex Reese was the one other available player off the bench.

The Pacers scored the game’s first 11 bench points and the Sixers’ second unit started 0 for 7 from the floor. However, the Sixers kept their advantage after turning to the bench and went up 43-27 when Ricky Council IV drained a long three-pointer. 

Starting the second game of his rookie year, Adem Bona played a very strong second quarter. The UCLA product posted 10 points in the period and made 6 for 7 free throws. He also had two steals and a block with active, zealous work defensively. 

In addition to Bona, Guerschon Yabusele fought well on the glass Friday. Yabusele only scored five points on 1-for-6 shooting, but he snagged a career-high 15 rebounds.

Reality hits

Indiana’s offensive woes finally subsided a bit late in the second quarter. A Tyrese Haliburton three early in the third put the Pacers on top. 

Eventually, the game was bound to align more closely with anyone’s realistic expectations. Dowtin stopped making every shot, the Sixers had a string of disjointed possessions, and the team looked outmatched in the talent department. 

The Sixers did make another spirited push late in the third quarter, cutting the Pacers’ lead down to 74-73 on two Council free throws, but their burst wasn’t sustainable.

The Pacers dominated the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, restoring a double-digit lead and finishing off the comfortable win they always seemed destined to take.

Warriors must address ‘kinks' Steph warned of after Butler trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Everyone was warned that this would happen, and Curry thought it might happen soon, considering the significant midseason roster reconstruction. But the Warriors did a commendable in the initial weeks after Jimmy Butler’s Feb. 8 arrival. The new energy lifted spirits and their status in the standings.

Now that a month has passed, the kinks are creeping into performance. They were visible again in Golden State’s latest win, a 130-104 dispatching of the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night at Chase Center.

The victory was as flawed as it was decisive, much a few other recent wins. The turnover issue that for years has clung to the Warriors like lint on black wool – and was under control for until the past couple weeks – is back and it is harmful enough that they know they must address it to make a deep playoff run.

“It’s something we’ve got to control,” Moses Moody said after a light practice on Friday.

“Yeah, the last couple days, they’ve been showing us our blooper reels of us turning the ball over,” Kevon Looney said. “We had some crazy ones, but we know we need to get better.”

The Warriors are 13-2 under their revamped roster, but a troublesome trend is developing with turnovers. After averaging 11.9 per game in February, they’re up to 15.3 in March. They committed 70 giveaways (17.5 per game) over the last four, donating 86 points (21.5 per game) to their opponents.

The Kings scored 20 points off 16 Warriors turnovers, with most of the damage coming late in the second quarter and early in the third. The Warriors made six donations in the final five minutes of the first half and three more in the first three minutes of the second half. Their 23-point lead was whittled to four in eight minutes.

“Carelessness and risk – too much risk,” coach Steve Kerr said. “That was the main point of our offensive film session today. We had that game totally under control, up 23 in the first half, and then kind of lost our mind down the stretch, that last two minutes of the of the half.

“The message is, against the best teams we’re not going to get away with that.”

It’s asking a lot of any team to donate 20 points to the Knicks or the Nuggets or the Bucks and still come away with a victory. They’d almost have to play the same game of charity.

And those are the next three teams coming, in that order, to Chase. The Warriors beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on Feb. 10 (Butler’s second game) and took down the Knicks in New York on March 4. They haven’t beaten the Nuggets since March 2022, having since gone 0-7.

“That’s why I’m hammering it home every day,” Kerr said. “We’re good enough now where we can win some games like we’ve shown. Brooklyn and then Detroit, especially, those two felt really careless and loose. Last night was actually pretty good for the most part other than that stretch.”

So, yes, with 16 games remaining and currently in sixth place in a congested Western Conference playoff race, it’s imperative for Golden State to get into the lab. To study video of errant performance, even though it can be brutal to watch.

“It’s accountability,” Moody said. “When you’re seeing it in front of you on the screen, there’s no argument about if I did it or not. You’re red-handed. So, at that point you’ve got to take responsibility for it and see how you can change.”

Kerr referenced the worst of the Warriors collapses this season, on Feb. 5 at Utah, the day before Butler was acquired and three days before his debut. The Jazz, trailing by 11, outscored the Warriors 20-6 in less than three minutes to steal a win.

“That’s a team that’s in the lottery and not going anywhere this year,” Kerr said. “The point is all 30 teams have the ability to score 20 points in three minutes. Everyone can shoot 3s now. It’s not like the old days where you can afford a couple of careless turnovers, and it may not bite you. It’s going to bite you now.”

It didn’t bite hard enough to hurt against the last four opponents: Brooklyn, Detroit, Portland and Sacramento. The next few opponents have bigger teeth. 

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Warriors must address kinks Steph warned of after Butler trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Everyone was warned that this would happen, and Curry thought it might happen soon, considering the significant midseason roster reconstruction. But the Warriors did a commendable in the initial weeks after Jimmy Butler’s Feb. 8 arrival. The new energy lifted spirits and their status in the standings.

Now that a month has passed, the kinks are creeping into performance. They were visible again in Golden State’s latest win, a 130-104 dispatching of the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night at Chase Center.

The victory was as flawed as it was decisive, much a few other recent wins. The turnover issue that for years has clung to the Warriors like lint on black wool – and was under control for until the past couple weeks – is back and it is harmful enough that they know they must address it to make a deep playoff run.

“It’s something we’ve got to control,” Moses Moody said after a light practice on Friday.

“Yeah, the last couple days, they’ve been showing us our blooper reels of us turning the ball over,” Kevon Looney said. “We had some crazy ones, but we know we need to get better.”

The Warriors are 13-2 under their revamped roster, but a troublesome trend is developing with turnovers. After averaging 11.9 per game in February, they’re up to 15.3 in March. They committed 70 giveaways (17.5 per game) over the last four, donating 86 points (21.5 per game) to their opponents.

The Kings scored 20 points off 16 Warriors turnovers, with most of the damage coming late in the second quarter and early in the third. The Warriors made six donations in the final five minutes of the first half and three more in the first three minutes of the second half. Their 23-point lead was whittled to four in eight minutes.

“Carelessness and risk – too much risk,” coach Steve Kerr said. “That was the main point of our offensive film session today. We had that game totally under control, up 23 in the first half, and then kind of lost our mind down the stretch, that last two minutes of the of the half.

“The message is, against the best teams we’re not going to get away with that.”

It’s asking a lot of any team to donate 20 points to the Knicks or the Nuggets or the Bucks and still come away with a victory. They’d almost have to play the same game of charity.

And those are the next three teams coming, in that order, to Chase. The Warriors beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on Feb. 10 (Butler’s second game) and took down the Knicks in New York on March 4. They haven’t beaten the Nuggets since March 2022, having since gone 0-7.

“That’s why I’m hammering it home every day,” Kerr said. “We’re good enough now where we can win some games like we’ve shown. Brooklyn and then Detroit, especially, those two felt really careless and loose. Last night was actually pretty good for the most part other than that stretch.”

So, yes, with 16 games remaining and currently in sixth place in a congested Western Conference playoff race, it’s imperative for Golden State to get into the lab. To study video of errant performance, even though it can be brutal to watch.

“It’s accountability,” Moody said. “When you’re seeing it in front of you on the screen, there’s no argument about if I did it or not. You’re red-handed. So, at that point you’ve got to take responsibility for it and see how you can change.”

Kerr referenced the worst of the Warriors collapses this season, on Feb. 5 at Utah, the day before Butler was acquired and three days before his debut. The Jazz, trailing by 11, outscored the Warriors 20-6 in less than three minutes to steal a win.

“That’s a team that’s in the lottery and not going anywhere this year,” Kerr said. “The point is all 30 teams have the ability to score 20 points in three minutes. Everyone can shoot 3s now. It’s not like the old days where you can afford a couple of careless turnovers, and it may not bite you. It’s going to bite you now.”

It didn’t bite hard enough to hurt against the last four opponents: Brooklyn, Detroit, Portland and Sacramento. The next few opponents have bigger teeth. 

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