Steve Kerr says Warriors know they are bound for play-in - ESPN

BOSTON — After his team lost for the sixth time in the past seven games, Golden State coach Steve Kerr laid bare the cold reality the Warriors have been facing for weeks as they hobble toward the regular-season finish line.

«Can we prepare ourselves for the play-in [tournament]?» Kerr asked. «We're going to be in the play-in. We know that.»

Wednesday night's 120-99 road loss to the Celtics pushed the Warriors to 10th in the Western Conference standings, a half-game behind the Portland Trail Blazers. There's no threat behind them; all five of the teams outside the West playoff picture are at least nine games back with 13 left.

So there is no more room for the Warriors to fall. But there's also not much ability to climb.

Golden State is now 33-36, 8.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets (and a top-six guaranteed playoff spot) and six games away from the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns.

«We've had our eyes on six for a while,» Kerr said. «That's out of the question now. We're not getting there. If we can string together some wins, try to get to eighth, that'd be ideal. Get two cracks at [getting in the playoffs]. But we're not getting to seven. We know that.»

Through this turbulent patch, there are signs of slight optimism.

Warriors star Stephen Curry has sat out the previous 19 games because of a persistent right knee issue, but he is on this road trip and has been intensifying his court work. He got in some light contact work while in Boston and there is some internal hope he can be cleared for a scrimmage before the end of the trip, which could pave the way for his return before the end of March.

The Warriors were 27-22 on the night Curry called out of a loss to Detroit because of his troublesome right knee. They've gone 6-13