The Golden State Warriors squandered a significant opportunity to create a 2-2 series tie in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday — losing Game 4 with a final score of 104-101. The reigning NBA champions now face a 3-1 series deficit.
The Warriors didn’t quite have enough to win despite Stephen Curry recording 31 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. Perhaps most troubling for Golden State was the 12-point lead the team held during the third quarter but ultimately proved unable to maintain.
Despite losing a double-figure lead, the Warriors still had a genuine outlook to achieve a win. Being limited to just 17 points in the fourth quarter with pivotal late-game failures proved to be too much for Golden State to overcome in what became a three-point loss.
“We had good looks that didn’t go in, but we fought all the way down to the last second to give ourselves a chance to steal a win,” Curry said. “Fourth quarter, we only scored 17 points. That’s a tough way to finish. I have to look at the film to see exactly where, defensively, they made adjustments, but we had a lot of good looks. We had confidence.”
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After losing two consecutive games, the Warriors enter Wednesday’s Game 5 without any margin for error, as any loss would result in playoff elimination. The odds of advancing to the Western Conference Finals are bleak, but Golden State is ready to play it out.
“It feels like what it is,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “You go home, and you take care of business. You get a win. And the momentum is right back in your favor. That’s all it is. Someone has to win four times. That’s why you play it out.”
Overcoming a 3-1 series deficit is not entirely uncharted territory for the Warriors. They achieved this feat against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook when defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
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The Warriors understand what it’s like to be on the side of the equation, too, as they gave up a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals when LeBron James and Kyrie Irving rallied the Cleveland Cavaliers back to win the title.
“We made history before. The goal is to win one at home,” Thompson. “We know we are capable of taking care of home court. It’s about staying present and not looking ahead.
“It’s fun to reflect on the past and learn from it and take that same competitive energy that brought us back in the past to today.”
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As they gear up to attempt such a significant comeback, the Warriors focus on taking it one game at a time instead of overlooking the immediate challenge. Among the 277 instances of a team falling 3-1 in a series in NBA history, there have only been 13 successful comebacks — a success rate of just 4.7 percent.
“Take it one game at a time and enjoy the process of chasing greatness,” Thompson said.
Failing to respond with a victory in Game 5 could raise significant questions for the Warriors entering what already is considered a pivotal offseason.
Grant Afseth is an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network and a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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