Who knocked the Golden State Warriors out of the 2024 NBA Playoffs?

The Golden State Warriors suffered a setback on Tuesday night, falling 118-94 to the Sacramento Kings, who kept their playoff hopes alive. Keegan Murray's impressive performance included sinking eight 3-pointers, tallying 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds, spearheading the Kings' convincing victory over their visitors.

In the 9 vs. 10 play-in game, De'Aaron Fox contributed 24 points for the ninth-place Sacramento Kings, asserting their control with a solid performance.

Their victory sets up a showdown against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, with the winner securing the coveted No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and a matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Despite their efforts, the Golden State Warriors, who entered the game in 10th place in the West, faced disappointment, as they fell short.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 22 points but also committed six turnovers. Meanwhile, his long-time teammate and Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, endured a challenging game, failing to make any of his 10 shots and ending the night scoreless. The defeat marks the Warriors' third absence from the playoffs in five seasons.

The Kings, meanwhile, were vindicated by their win after the letdown of last season. They squandered a 2-0 advantage to Golden State in the playoffs, with the Dubs winning four of the last five games,.

Despite their latest loss, the Dubs connected on 41.2% of their field-goal attempts, but their 3-point shooting fell short, with a 31.2% success rate from behind the arc.

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What's next for the Golden State Warriors?

The Golden State Warriors are entering what could arguably be their most critical offseason since the start of the Steve Kerr era almost a decade ago, following an earlier-than-expected end to their playoff aspirations.

Owner Joe Lacob, alongside general manager Mike Dunleavy and Kerr, are confronted with a series of significant and decisive questions that will influence the trajectory of the franchise.

The pivotal decision facing the Golden State Warriors revolves around the future of four-time champion Klay Thompson, whose contract concluded following the team's defeat to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA postseason play-in game.

All signs point toward a new contract. Thompson has consistently expressed his desire to continue with the team he has called home throughout his NBA career.

Furthermore, both Kerr and several of Thompson's teammates have voiced their desire to see him return, underscoring his importance to the Warriors roster.