Blue Man Hoop
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Game Report: Inefficient Warriors stumble against 76ers

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on while there's a time out against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on while there's a time out against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

In what may go down as the ugliest Golden State Warriors game for some time, a season-low 93 points brought the Dubs a nine-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

For the majority of the game, outside spurts from Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, the Warriors’ offense was suffocated by a 76ers defense led by a lockdown performance from Matisse Thybulle.

The low-scoring nature of the matchup shouldn’t have come as a surprise, the Warriors league-leading defense matched by a 76ers slow-paced offense.

Both teams battled to find an offensive rhythm early, Thybulle and Kevon Looney doing a quality job on respective stars Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid. By halfway through the second quarter, the Warriors had mustered just 29 points as Philadelphia opened up a nine-point lead.

Wiggins was a one-man show for much of the first half, able to take advantage of the size difference between him and 76er guards Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry.

The Warriors began to find a groove late in the half, particularly after Thybulle collected his third foul and sat with 2:26 remaining. Following that, Golden State finished the half on an 11-4 run, taking a three-point lead into the third.

After the teams traded baskets early in the third, a series of Jordan Poole triples threatened to break the game open as the Warriors went up 69-56. But from there, with 5:41 left in the third, it was nothing short of a horror show for Dubs fans.

The Warrior lead was cut to three by the start of the fourth, then, following a stellar night defensively, Thybulle nailed a three to give Philadelphia the lead with 9:46 remaining in the ball game.

Golden State never regained the lead, outscored 32-20 in the final 12 minutes. With the Warrior role players unable to produce their usual output, and Curry incapable of offsetting that with his usual brilliance, the hurdles proved too difficult for the Dubs to overcome.

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