The Golden State Warriors went ice-cold in the fourth quarter of their eventual 115-107 defeat in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Houston's incredible energy, defensive intensity and rebounding prowess pummeled the Warriors down the stretch to ultimately force a Game 7. Golden State's dynamic offense was held to just 13 points from the beginning of the final period to the 2:24 mark, when head coach Steve Kerr decided to wave the white flag and send in his reserves.
The Warriors' overall lack of focus and urgency shocked the NBA sphere, as the core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green appeared unmotivated for long stretches throughout the contest.
Following the devastating loss, Golden State's demeanor was analyzed thoroughly by one NBA writer who claimed that the team's physical exhaustion from the grueling series had effectively bled into a serious mental fog.
"This unbecoming impotence, this fragility that’s suddenly surfaced, reeks of a team running on fumes," The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II wrote Saturday.
"This is something more than being tired. That’s too physical a connotation. This fatigue is more spiritual, a weariness of the soul, an exhaustion of the mind."
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
"The Warriors, as they launched desperation 3-pointers to no avail and devolved into a mess on defense, ran out of fight, as well as answers."
"Sunday will either be a funeral for their season or a flex of their legendary mettle. But they’ve got to find the antidote, because it won’t be rest."
Despite the Warriors' shocking performance, the team's mid-season trade acquisition Butler still managed to pour in 27 points along with nine rebounds and eight assists in Game 6. Curry also contributed 26 points through the first three quarters, finishing with 29 total.
If there's one thing that Golden State can count on while battling through fatigue, it's that Curry's history in Game 7's has been kind to the organization in recent years. In fact, his last Game 7 outing ended with a 50-point explosion that propelled his team to a second-round berth in the 2023 NBA Playoffs and past the Sacramento Kings.
The only problem is that the all-time great point guard has been playing through a nagging injury to his right thumb, one which the Rockets have been accused of purposefully targeting. Curry won't use the ailment as an excuse, but its potential impact on the game is worth taking into account.
With their backs firmly positioned against a wall, the veteran duo of Curry and Butler are familiar with the pressure of the moment as two leading men on NBA Finals rosters. Still, only time will tell if the hastily-constructed superstar pairing can keep the Warriors' season alive in Game 7 against Houston on Sunday night.
More NBA: Nuggets' Nikola Jokic has playoff stats not seen since Wilt Chamberlain