What a jaw-dropping twist in the NBA season—imagine an underdog team, battered by injuries and struggling at a dismal 0-5 start, suddenly flipping the script on one of the league's most formidable powers, leaving the superstar guard to stare into the mirror and question his own game. This isn't just any upset; it's a reminder that in basketball, anything can happen, and it forces fans to rethink what we really know about team dynamics and individual performance. But here's where it gets controversial: Could this loss signal deeper cracks in the Warriors' foundation, or is it all just a fluke that Steph Curry is unfairly shouldering the blame for?
In this unbelievable turn of events, the Indiana Pacers—playing without six key players due to injuries—managed to outlast the largely intact Golden State Warriors on Saturday. The Warriors had built what seemed like an insurmountable 11-point lead, but in the chaotic final six minutes, they crumbled completely. Indiana stormed back with a blistering 20-5 run to secure their maiden win of the year, bumping their injury-marred record to 1-5. For context, if you're new to NBA stats, this kind of comeback rally highlights how momentum can shift dramatically in the closing moments of a game, where a few well-timed plays can erase an entire deficit—it's like a thriller novel coming alive on the court.
Speaking of which, you might want to check out more on how the Pacers are navigating this rough patch; they've been making some unfortunate history with their early struggles, as detailed in this Sports Illustrated piece (https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/onsi/news/pacers-making-wrong-kind-of-nba-history-after-brutal-0-5-start).
And while we're on the topic of Pacers news, there's another intriguing story brewing: Myles Turner expressed genuine surprise at the offer he received during free agency. It's a fascinating glimpse into the business side of basketball, where even established stars can be caught off guard by negotiations. Dive deeper into that here (https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/onsi/news/myles-turner-was-shocked-by-pacers-offer-in-free-agency).
Meanwhile, the more gifted Warriors squad saw their unbeaten streak evaporate, losing back-to-back games and settling for a modest 4-3 record in the competitive Western Conference. This isn't their usual standard, and it begs the question: Are the Warriors truly invincible, or does this expose vulnerabilities in their lineup?
Guard Quenton Jackson delivered a breakout performance, hitting a personal best of 25 points by shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. For beginners, this means he was highly efficient, making over 60% of his shots overall, which is impressive in a high-stakes game. He wasn't just scoring, though—he added 10 assists (think of assists as those pinpoint passes that set up teammates for easy baskets), six rebounds (grabbing the ball after missed shots), and three steals (intercepting the opponent's passes). It was only fitting that Jackson capped off the victory with a clever banked jumper—where the ball bounces off the backboard before going in—against Draymond Green with just 4.8 seconds left on the clock, securing the 114-109 final score.
Small forward Aaron Nesmith was Indiana's top scorer, dropping 31 points on 10-of-19 shots from the field, including 5-of-11 from three-point range (that's beyond the arc, adding extra points for long-range accuracy), and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out one assist—often called a 'dime' in basketball slang, evoking the idea of passing a 10-dollar bill smoothly.
Three-time All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam brought his A-game with 27 points (12-of-23 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line), plus five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and even a block to round out his all-around contribution.
Starting center Isaiah Jackson contributed reliably with 10 points and eight rebounds, helping anchor the team's defense.
Post-game, a visibly puzzled Stephen Curry opened up about the shocking outcome during his press conference, as reported by Anthony Slater of ESPN. He described it as one of those 'look in the mirror' moments—a reflective phrase meaning it's time for self-examination when things go awry. 'This is one of those look in the mirror (type games). There are parts of the game I made it too hard on all of us,' Curry admitted.
You can catch the full exchange between Curry and Jimmy Butler in this tweet: Full Curry/Butler soundbites pic.twitter.com/rRUcaUiB8U (https://t.co/rRUcaUiB8U) — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 2, 2025 (https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1984986759688765736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
He elaborated, noting how the Pacers landed key threes that turned the tide, while the Warriors missed some crucial ones. 'They hit a couple big 3s that got them over the hump, we missed a couple. This is one of those games [where you just need to] look in the mirror,' the two-time MVP explained. 'There are parts of the game I made it too hard on all of us [with] not getting organized, bad possessions, lack of energy. You give a team like that life — their record was a little [misleading] because they've been in a bunch of games. They had enough talent where you saw they could make shots down the stretch.'
And this is the part most people miss: Even in defeat, Curry's stats were solid—he led his team with 24 points, though his shooting was off at 8-for-23 from the field (about 35%, which is below his elite standards) and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. He added two assists but also committed five turnovers, illustrating how costly mistakes can snowball in tight games.
Oh, and just to keep things current: The Pacers are gearing up for their next challenge, a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. Will they build on this momentum, or was this just a one-off?
For the latest updates and insights on the Indiana Pacers, head over to the SI Pacers page (https://www.si.com/nba/pacers).
But let's get real—does Curry's self-criticism ring true, or is he being too harsh on himself when the Warriors have underperformed as a unit? And here's a controversial take: Maybe this upset highlights how overrated the Warriors are without their full strength, or perhaps it shows that even stars like Curry can have off nights that derail the team. What do you think? Are the Pacers finally turning it around, or is this loss a wake-up call for Golden State? Drop your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with Curry's reflection, or disagree? Let's discuss!
