Warriors Collapse Late as Pacers Steal First Win of the Season
It was one of those nights when everything that could go wrong, did. The Golden State Warriors, a team built on experience and championship pedigree, somehow let another winnable game slip through their fingers — this time against an injury-ravaged Indiana Pacers squad that hadn’t won a single game yet this season. The final score read 114–109 in favor of the Pacers, and coach Steve Kerr didn’t hold back afterward. “Everything went wrong,” he admitted, frustration written all over his face.
For a team that once prided itself on precision, Saturday night in Indianapolis was anything but that. Golden State had control — up by 11 points after a Stephen Curry three-pointer with just over six minutes left. But from that point, the wheels came off. Turnovers piled up, defensive rotations broke down, and the Pacers — with a roster so thin they needed a hardship exception to add another player — simply outworked them.
Kerr’s postgame remarks told the story. He pointed out that the Warriors, despite all their talent, looked unfocused and sluggish, repeating the same mistakes they’ve made in recent seasons. After starting the year strong at 4–1, they’ve now dropped two straight — both against teams missing their stars. “We just gave away two games,” Kerr said, emphasizing that it’s often these small slip-ups that haunt teams when playoff seeding time comes around.
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Stephen Curry, ever the leader, didn’t shy away from accountability. He admitted his own struggles — going 4-for-16 from deep and committing five turnovers — and said he made things harder for the team. “I made it too hard on all of us,” he confessed, citing poor organization and energy. For a player known for lifting his teammates with his shooting and composure, this was a rare off night.
The Pacers, meanwhile, played like a team desperate to prove something. Guard Quenton Jackson dropped a career-high 25 points, leading a stunning 20–5 closing run that left the Warriors stunned. They got clean looks, played with energy, and simply wanted it more down the stretch.
Kerr did acknowledge some positives — young players like Gui Santos, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski brought life off the bench — but their effort was wasted as the veterans failed to seal the game. Forward Jimmy Butler summed it up best: “We’ve got to get back to giving a damn. All five on defense, all five on offense.”
The Warriors now face a challenging stretch — seven games in 12 nights, most of them on the road. Fatigue and tough schedules might be convenient excuses, but Kerr made it clear: “Everybody’s got their tough stretches. You have to find a way to execute when you’re not at your best.”
For a team with championship standards, losing focus this early in the season is a red flag. And as Kerr said, the West is loaded — every missed opportunity could come back to haunt them.
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