Steph Curry Scored 35 Points in 36 Minutes and Nobody Knows What Comes Next for the Warriors

The Golden State Warriors' season ended Friday night in the play-in tournament, but not before Steph Curry reminded everyone why he's still the most dangerous shooter on the planet. After missing 27 games with knee pain that dragged on way longer than expected, Curry came back and dropped 35 points in 36 minutes in an elimination win over the Clippers. Steve Kerr called it one of his favorite wins of the entire era. "For one night, we're us," Kerr said. "We're champions again."

Then the Phoenix Suns ended it all two nights later.

A Season That Broke in Every Direction

This Warriors team went through absolute hell. Key injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, the kind of season-altering stuff that derails rosters. Curry needed a giant heating pack just to get through games. Somehow, despite all that chaos, they finished 37-10 and still punched their ticket to the play-in. Draymond Green said it best: "Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong this year. And yet we still have a chance."

The defense was there when it mattered most. In that win over the Clippers, Green stifled Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter and locked down exactly when Golden State needed him. For one night, the Warriors looked like the Warriors again. That's championship basketball.

What Now? The Uncertainty Is Real

The offseason looms with massive questions hanging over the franchise. Blockbuster trade? New coach? A hard reset? Nobody knows yet. Steve Kerr has always known the right thing to say, and Curry is the kind of leader you can rally around, but this decade-long dynasty run might finally be over. The Warriors have to figure out who they are and where they're going, and the answers won't come easy.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.