Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry sent a clear message to his teammates after their surprising loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

© Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the NBA game at PHX Arena.

With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Western Conference standings are razor-thin, and any team could find itself moving from a playoff spot to the play-in tournament.

In this high-stakes scenario, the Golden State Warriors let a crucial opportunity slip through their fingers, falling 114-111 to the San Antonio Spurs.

After the loss, Stephen Curry delivered a direct message to his teammates, emphasizing the importance of finishing strong in their final games.

The Warriors squandered a double-digit lead for the first time since Jimmy Butler joined the franchise. The defeat not only cost them the sixth seed but dropped them to seventh, putting them in the play-in zone.

Curry made it clear that the team must rise to the occasion in their last two games to prove they’re playoff-ready. “A good team takes care of business the next two and goes from there. 

We have to prove we’re a good team,” Curry told reporters in the post-game press conference.

“We know where we’re at,” Curry continued. “We know that every game is important. It’s been important over the last two weeks, and we’ve done a lot to give ourselves a chance to climb pretty high considering where we were before the trade deadline.

And [losing] these last two home games sucks, like for different reasons”.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter at Chase Center. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Steve Kerr highlights key turning point in loss

The Warriors struggled mightily whenever Curry was off the court. According to insider Anthony Slater, Golden State went -16 during non-Curry minutes. Head coach Steve Kerr pointed to these stretches as critical moments that swung the game.

“I thought that was key to the game,” Kerr said, via Slater of The Athletic. “Top of the second, top of the fourth. We played two great quarters tonight, first quarter and third quarter“.

“And then both of those quarters, top of the second, top of the fourth, they blitzed us. I think they went 19-3 in the second quarter,” Kerr added. “And then to go into the fourth with a 12-point lead and then immediately, I think it was maybe a 12-4 start in the fourth. Those were the two key stretches of the game”.

Draymond Green’s honest take on the loss

Following the tough loss to the Spurs, Draymond Green didn’t hold back his frustration, calling out the team’s lack of focus.

He highlighted their costly mistakes and expressed confidence that the Warriors would bounce back with the poise expected of a championship-caliber squad.

“We’re not children. We’re adults. Champions. We know what it takes,” Green said after the game. “We messed around with the game and we lost. That’s how it goes”.