The Golden State Warriors ended their losing streak with a 114-83 win. It came against a shorthanded Indiana Pacers team missing Pascal Siakam, but after two straight losses, and with Stephen Curry still out, the win was just what the Bay needed. More than a victory, it gave the team a confidence boost before arguably the toughest stretch of their season.

From Tuesday, the Warriors will play 6 games in nine days. That includes OKC and the Spurs on back-to-back nights on the road. Worse, Curry is still down with a bad illness. Jimmy Butler knows that with him, the upcoming stretch would have been easier to manage. However, after the dub against the Pacers, the team is in good spirits.

“We play some really good teams on the road. But you got to you got to win some of these to show that you can compete with the best of them. Obviously, if we got 30* out there, our chances of winning goes up drastically. But even if he isn’t ready to go, we still got to go out there and we got to compete, cuz it’s very possible that we can win,” the veteran forward said after the game.

This was the Warriors’ first of three wins without their *number 30 Stephen Curry in the lineup. The offense naturally struggled without the Baby-Faced Assassin, and even Draymond Green had managed just three assists against the Pacers. Still, the team managed to get past their problems and find a way to win, even without their star shooter on the floor.

Rookie Will Richard provided a huge contribution off the bench, scoring 15 in his limited 19 minutes. Additionally, Jimmy Butler logged in 21 points on 10-15 shooting (66.7% from the field), dialing up his aggression as the primary scoring threat. Still, even with a diverse attacking front, the Warriors have a humongous challenge if Curry doesn’t return to full fitness in time.

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The Thunder, carrying last season’s championship caliber, are the only team in 2025-26 to have won 10 games, and the Spurs saw De’Aaron Fox make an immediate impact in his return. It’s going to be a test, and while they have a 1-2 record without Curry, the Warriors don’t look entirely helpless.

The Warriors will have to dig deep, and numbers tell you why

Stephen Curry is a magnetic presence that opens up lanes for the Warriors. Still, the team has found a way to be a successful offense. Aside from their 104 against the Nuggets, the Warriors have scored over 110 in both games without Curry. Furthermore, their identity as a lethal shooting team has prevailed.

The Warriors are shooting 42.7% from beyond the arc in three games without Curry. But even with the numbers being positive, the Warriors’ offense can’t peak without their talisman. Hence, the winning factor will come from playing hard-nosed defense. That’s where it gets tricky.

Both the Thunder and the Spurs rank among the top five for the fewest points allowed to opponents. The Warriors have been good in the defensive department, but have leaked points in the last two games before tonight’s win against the Pacers. This doesn’t come down to Curry directly. But his relentless movement on offense contributes to tiring opposition players, creating an advantage when the Warriors defend.

The Warriors don’t have a player who can replicate such activity. Worse of all, both the Thunder and the Spurs have gotten healthy, with the former only missing Jalen Williams. Hence, without Stephen Curry on the floor, the Warriors’ resilience will be tested. These games could be a blowout, but the veterans could turn the games around.

Can Draymond Green handle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama on back-to-back nights? Similarly, can Jimmy Butler be the heartbeat of their offense against the best defenses in the league? The ask to win will always alter their identity. Their defensive integrity will dictate how well the Warriors can do against some of the best teams in the league right now. A united effort on both sides of the court is what’s needed.

They will always have a chance. But given the teams they are facing, the Warriors will have to play some of their best basketball if Curry is unable to return in time.