The Golden State Warriors conducted a players-only meeting following their narrow 115-113 Christmas Day loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The meeting was called to address the team’s recent slump, which has seen them lose 11 of their last 14 games after a strong 12-3 start to the season.
Stephen Curry described the meeting as a crucial moment for the team. “It is an inflection point on obviously which direction our season can go,” Curry said after the game, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
Golden State currently sits at 15-14 and 10th in the Western Conference, a stark contrast to their early-season dominance. Head coach Steve Kerr, Curry, and Draymond Green have expressed confidence in the Warriors’ ability to recover and push through this challenging stretch.
Curry, who delivered a stellar performance against the Lakers with 38 points and eight three-pointers, remains optimistic. “I still have hope and faith and confidence that we can figure it out,” he said, urging his teammates to maintain focus and effort despite the adversity.
The Christmas Day thriller highlighted Golden State’s recent struggles to close out games. While Curry hit a game-tying 31-foot three-pointer with seven seconds left, Austin Reaves’ game-winning layup with one second remaining secured the victory for Los Angeles.
Reaves, who recorded his first career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ win. Meanwhile, LeBron James showcased his dominance with 31 points and 10 assists, extending his record for the most Christmas Day appearances to 19 games.
For the Warriors, Andrew Wiggins contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Draymond Green added 10 rebounds and six assists. However, Green’s eighth technical foul of the season in the second quarter underscored the frustrations within the team.
Golden State’s bench players, including Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, provided solid contributions with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Despite these efforts, the Warriors’ inability to maintain late-game leads has been a recurring issue.
The meeting reflected the team’s urgency to regroup and address both offensive and defensive inconsistencies. Curry emphasized the importance of staying mentally tough in a competitive league. “You just can’t lose spirit and belief that we’re a good enough team to figure it out because this league is ruthless,” he said.
Golden State’s loss to the Lakers, who overcame the early exit of Anthony Davis due to an ankle injury, further highlighted their struggles.
