Despite ending their regular season on a high note, Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors find themselves in a challenging position, needing to secure consecutive road victories in the Play-In games to clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Warriors had shown promise in the closing weeks of the season, positioning themselves for a potential top-eight seed. However, their hopes were dashed in a disappointing 114-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center on Friday.
The loss to the Pelicans stings particularly due to a drastic shift in momentum during the second quarter, where the Warriors relinquished a double-digit lead, being outscored 38-15 in the final nine minutes of the half.
While the collapse in the second quarter was glaring, another concerning aspect was the underutilization of rookie center Trayce Jackson-Davis, despite his impactful performance.
Jackson-Davis contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, boasting a +12 rating in his 22 minutes on the court. However, he saw minimal action in the crucial fourth quarter, a decision that Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged regret for before Sunday’s matchup against the Jazz.
“That’s one of those things where you just weigh your options and make your decisions in the game, but to be perfectly frank, I wish I’d played Trayce a little bit more.”
With the Warriors narrowly missing out on the eighth seed, Kerr’s choice to limit Jackson-Davis’ minutes against the Pelicans may prove costly as they now confront a formidable challenge.
Against the Jazz, Jackson-Davis managed eight points but struggled to secure rebounds in his 21 minutes of play. He, along with other key players, was rested for a significant portion of the second half as the team shifted focus to the impending Play-In Tournament.
As the Warriors gear up to face the Sacramento Kings, Jackson-Davis, drafted 57th overall last year, is poised to play a pivotal role, particularly in containing All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.
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