The unthinkable happened in San Francisco. The Golden State Warriors, one of the league’s proudest dynasties, just flat-out collapsed. Up by 11 points with six minutes to play, they somehow managed to fumble away the lead — and the game — to a depleted Indiana Pacers squad missing nearly their entire starting lineup. Final score: Pacers 114, Warriors 109.
It was a meltdown for the ages — the kind of loss that leaves fans silent, players stunned, and critics circling like sharks. No Tyrese Haliburton. No Bennedict Mathurin. No Andrew Nembhard. No Obi Toppin. No T.J. McConnell. On paper, the Pacers had no business even keeping this close. But basketball isn’t played on paper, and the Pacers proved it in jaw-dropping fashion.
The hero of the night? Aaron Nesmith. The 24-year-old forward torched Golden State for 31 points, attacking relentlessly, hitting timely threes, and refusing to let his team fade when things looked bleak. Then came Pascal Siakam — the veteran voice in the huddle — calmly drilling a cold-blooded clutch three that sealed the deal and sent the Chase Center crowd into stunned silence.
And let’s not forget Quenton Jackson, who delivered a career-high 25 points off the bench, showing poise and fearlessness far beyond his experience. For a team that entered the night winless, the Pacers looked like seasoned contenders down the stretch — executing plays, forcing turnovers, and out-hustling a Warriors roster that simply lost its edge when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, Golden State’s veterans — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — were visibly frustrated. The ball movement that once defined the Warriors dynasty broke down completely in crunch time. Shots went cold, defensive rotations lagged, and the Pacers smelled blood. The final minutes were pure chaos, as Indiana outscored Golden State 23–7 to close the game.
Fans quickly flooded social media, calling it one of the Warriors’ worst late-game implosions in recent memory. “This isn’t the same team anymore,” one user posted. “No killer instinct.” Another fan bluntly wrote: “How do you lose to Indiana’s bench?”
For Indiana, though, this win could be the spark they desperately needed. Without their stars, they leaned on grit, chemistry, and fearless execution — the exact qualities that define a team finding its identity. Coach Rick Carlisle praised the squad postgame, saying, “These guys didn’t care who was missing. They came to compete — and they earned every bit of this one.”
As for Golden State? The loss raises serious concerns about focus, consistency, and depth. For a team still trying to prove it can contend again, blowing an 11-point lead to a short-handed opponent feels like more than just a bad night — it feels like a warning.
The Pacers walk away with their first win of the season and a massive confidence boost. The Warriors walk away with a haunting question: Is the dynasty finally starting to crack?
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