The Golden State Warriors were on the same page about at least one thing.
The Kevin Durant era in Oakland started with a dud Tuesday night as the Warriors fell to the San Antonio Spurs 129-100 on their home court. Golden State, which won 24 consecutive games to begin last season before ultimately finishing with an NBA record 73 regular-season victories, looked completely out of sync, which both Durant and reigning MVP Stephen Curry acknowledged after the blowout loss at Oracle Arena.
“It’s a nice little slap in the face,” Curry said, according to ESPN.com.
Perhaps the Warriors will use the experience as a wake-up call this season as they look to reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year. But Tuesday’s loss to the Spurs clearly stings, especially given the hype surrounding the Warriors after landing Durant in free agency over the offseason.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Durant said, agreeing with Curry’s assessment, per ESPN.com. “It woke us up a bit, and we’re looking forward to getting better.”
Durant did his part, scoring a team-high 27 points in his Warriors debut. Golden State simply wasn’t firing on all cylinders, though, and that’s problematic in a season in which seemingly everyone is gunning for the championship favorites.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
