‘Dynasty is over’: Warriors’ golden era officially dead after champ’s brutal zero-point game

The Golden State Warriors dominated the last decade of the NBA but their dynasty is officially over following a brutal sudden death loss.

The Warriors dynasty is over.

After four titles in 10 years, the Golden State Warriors dynasty is finally over.

The Sacramento Kings defeated the Warriors 118-94 in a sudden death game on Tuesday (AEST) to eliminate their Californian rivals from the NBA play-in tournament.

Sacramento led from start to finish, thanks to a breakout 32-point game by Keegan Murray.

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All five Kings starters finished with double digit points, with the underrated Keon Ellis showing why he is arguably the most important player for Sacramento in the post-season.

Ellis, 24, finished with three steals, three steals and a trio of three-pointers.

It was revenge of sorts for the Kings, who lost a seven-game first round series to the Warriors last season. Sacramento haven’t won a playoff series in 20 years.

It couldn’t have gone much worse for the Warriors. Klay Thompson finished with zero points from 0/10 shooting, including six three-point attempts from 32 minutes of court time.

The whimpering result could well signal the end of Golden State’s dynasty and it’s possible we’ve seen Thompson, Steph Curry and Steph Curry play together for the last time.

Steph Curry’s Warriors crash out of the play-in tournament. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Golden State burst onto the scene to win the championship in 2015, before Kevin Durant helped them win twice more in 2017-18 and Steph Curry claimed a legacy defining title and Finals MVP in 2022.

Curry, Green and Thompson played in all four of those title runs.

[lights candle]
this could be their last quarter playing together.

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 17, 2024

the warriors have been good for so long that it became easy to assume that they would just be good forever

but this very much feels like the end and i’m not sure i’m ready 😔😔😔

— Shea Serrano 🦦 (@SheaSerrano) April 17, 2024

Looks like the Warriors are exactly what their record said they were - aging, flawed, troubled, vulnerable. Only 21-20 at home. Always questions and controversy and instability swirling around Draymond the Podcaster. The Dynasty is Over.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 17, 2024

Thompson is out of contract and with Andrew Wiggins earning big money and young players like Jonathan Kumminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski set to get pay rises in the coming years — it’s likely Thompson will leave in search of one last NBA payday.

The sharpshooter’s salary was USD$43 million this season and he is set sign in the off-season with a team desperate for scoring like the Orlando Magic.

Curry, 36, and Green, 34, and coach Steve Kerr are contracted for two more seasons but it’s hard to see the Warriors contending for another championship in a stacked Western Conference.

Klay Thompson’s last hurrah was seriously ugly. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

LeBron’s lucky Lakers escape

The Kings will face New Orleans on Saturday to make the NBA playoffs after the Pelicans lost 110-106 to the LA Lakers in the other Western Conference play-in game.

Pelicans star Zion Williamson had 40 points and was playing the best game of his career until he rolled his ankle attacking the basket with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans had tied the score after LeBron James missed a pair or lay-ups to open the door.

But Williamson immediately went to the changeroom after tweaking his ankle and played no further part in the game.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson had left leg soreness and would undergo scans on Wednesday.

Zion Williamson was playing the game of his life until his injury. Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images/AFP.

James finished with 23 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. D’Angelo Russell had 21 points, while Anthony Davis finished with 20 points and 15 assists.

The Lakers will face reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets swept LA 4-0 in their series last year.

Despite the comprehensive victory over the Warriors, the Kings will have to step it up another level to beat New Orleans — the Pelicans have won all five games between the two teams this season.

The winner of that game will face top seeds the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Eastern Conference NBA play-in games

Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat — Wednesday 9am AEST

Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks — Wednesday 11.30am AEST

Originally published as ‘Dynasty is over’: Warriors’ golden era officially dead after champ’s brutal zero-point game