The Golden State Warriors appeared to have a much-needed win secured Tuesday night before a late collapse against the Chicago Bulls dramatically changed the outcome — and potentially their playoff outlook.
Golden State held an eight-point lead with just over 90 seconds remaining at Chase Center before the game unraveled. The Bulls stormed back and eventually secured a 130–124 overtime victory after a costly late foul by Draymond Green sent the game to extra time.
With 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Green made contact with Chicago’s Jalen Smith in the corner as he attempted to contest a potential game-tying shot. Officials ruled it a foul, sending Smith to the free-throw line where he calmly made both attempts to force overtime.
Chicago took control from there, outscoring the Warriors in the extra period to complete a comeback that left Golden State searching for answers.
Steve Kerr admits Warriors should have closed the game out
After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the late foul while defending the decision to insert Green into the game.
“He just got his hand on his body. It was a foul,” Kerr said after reviewing the play. “I’m sure he’d like to have that one back.”
Kerr also explained that Green had not played much of the fourth quarter before being inserted late for defensive possessions.
“He didn’t play the whole fourth quarter and then I throw him out there for a couple defensive possessions because I know how good he is on that end,” Kerr said. “He wasn’t exactly loose and in the flow, and I’m sure that didn’t help.”
Still, Kerr emphasized that the bigger issue was Golden State’s inability to finish a game they controlled late.
“We had two very winnable games,” Kerr said. “You’ve got to finish, and we didn’t finish.”
Warriors now facing difficult play-in path
The loss had major implications in the Western Conference standings.
Golden State dropped to 32–33 on the season, falling below .500 for the first time since late December while sliding to ninth place in the Western Conference.
The Warriors now sit just half a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth seed, while maintaining a narrow lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in tenth.
That positioning matters because of how the NBA’s play-in tournament works.
Teams finishing seventh or eighth only need to win one of two games to reach the playoffs. But teams finishing ninth or tenth must win two consecutive elimination games just to advance.
Why the 9–10 play-in spot is such a problem
Since the NBA adopted the current play-in format in 2021, teams starting in the ninth or tenth seed have only advanced to the playoffs four times in twenty opportunities, a success rate of roughly 20 percent.
The odds are particularly tough for the No. 10 seed, which has only produced one playoff team during that span. The math behind the format explains why.
A ninth- or tenth-seeded team must win two straight games against higher-seeded opponents just to reach the postseason, while teams in the seventh or eighth spots have the advantage of a second chance if they lose their first play-in matchup.
Injuries have defined Golden State’s season
The Warriors’ struggles have been compounded by injuries to key players.
Stephen Curry has missed the past several weeks with a knee injury, while Jimmy Butler’s season ended earlier with a torn ACL.
Without their two biggest offensive engines, Golden State has been forced to rely on a constantly changing rotation, something Kerr acknowledged after the loss.
“When you’re banged up and dealing with injuries, every game is different,” Kerr said. “You have to mix and match and find the right combinations.”
Even so, the Warriors still appeared to have the Bulls game under control before the late collapse.
Instead, the defeat pushed Golden State further into play-in territory and extended their recent skid to three straight losses.
With just weeks remaining in the regular season, the margin for error is quickly disappearing.