The Golden State Warriors stumbled in Atlanta, falling 124-115 to the Hawks on Saturday night in a game that Draymond Green described as a “terrible loss.”
Golden State struggled defensively from the start, allowing Atlanta to dictate the pace and build an early lead. Green acknowledged the team’s lack of urgency, saying, “We just didn’t come out ready to play and came out like we were just going to win the game.”
With Stephen Curry sidelined due to a pelvic contusion, Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 25 points. Moses Moody contributed 20 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 19, hitting five three-pointers.
Trae Young paced the Hawks with 25 points and 10 assists, securing his 41st double-double of the season. Georges Niang provided a significant boost off the bench with 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Onyeka Okongwu posted 20 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring Atlanta’s interior presence.
The Hawks dominated early, leading for all but 11 seconds after briefly falling behind 3-0. They built a 22-point advantage and held off Golden State’s late-game push.
Niang’s three-pointer early in the fourth quarter extended Atlanta’s lead to 21 points at 106-85, silencing any comeback hopes for the Warriors.
Green emphasized the significance of the defeat, especially with the Warriors fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. “It’s a bad loss. It’s a terrible loss,” he said. “When you have a chance to compete for something, eleven games left with everything to play for, you shouldn’t have a loss like this.”
Golden State, now 41-30, sits sixth in the West but faces mounting pressure as the postseason approaches. Atlanta improved to 34-36, maintaining its hold on seventh place in the East and solidifying its Play-In Tournament position.
