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A season that was supposed to mark the return of the dynastic Warriors was dealt another blow on Christmas Day.
Golden State was thrashed by the Milwaukee Bucks, 138-99 Friday, as it already seems destined for a second straight spot in the draft lottery, following a run of three titles in five years.
The 39-point loss marked the largest loss on the holiday, while Golden State’s 65-point differential through the first two games is the second worst in league history, behind the 17-65 Clippers of 1988 (71 points).
Khris Middleton’s 31 points led the Bucks, who seem poised to compete for a title this season.
The Warriors, not so much.
After essentially surrendering last season following injuries to Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, leading to a 15-50 record and the second pick in the draft, Golden State was expected to at least compete this season.
But any hopes of a bounce back were dashed long before the season’s tipoff Tuesday, when Thompson, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, ruptured his Achilles tendon during a practice last month, costing him another full season.
Curry, who played just 22 games last season due to a hand injury , was back on the floor to lead the Warriors on Friday but had a pedestrian 19 points.
“It was kind of just scattered and disorganized,” longtime head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game, a description that would rarely have fit Warriors teams of the past half decade. “I’m disappointed in that and need to take the blame for that.”
Besides Curry, perhaps the greatest 3-point shooter in league history, were James Wiseman, the No. 2 pick, and three other starters who also were not on the last Warriors team to make the NBA Finals.
Draymond Green, the loudmouth, frenetic defender, missed his second game in a row due to a nagging foot injury.
And long gone is Kevin Durant, who left Golden State for Brooklyn two summers ago, and scored 22 points in the Nets’ opening night 125-99 victory over his former team.
It’s early, but it seems the Warriors may be bound for another lost season, and there’s no telling whether one of the NBA’s most-thrilling dynasties will ever make a comeback.
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