The Nuggets continue their home and home with Golden State, with Thursday’s NBA game shifting back to Ball Arena. Denver was dominant at times in Tuesday night’s win, taking a 60-36 lead into halftime, but they almost gave that game up with just 29 points in the second half.
Either way, Tuesday was a solid defensive effort, and it doesn’t hurt that the Warriors are missing their best defensive player Draymond Green, who is in the league’s health and safety protocols.
The Nuggets are the last team you want to make excuses about injuries/absences, too, though, as Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Monte Morris (knee), and Austin Rivers (thumb) all remain questionable in addition to all the season-enders already.
Golden State Looks to Bounce Back
The Warriors are a bit short-handed, especially on the post, but they’re still going to try avoiding what would be consecutive losses for the first time this season. Golden State came out pretty flat on Tuesday night. Was that because their previous game was an emotional 116-107 win in Phoenix on Christmas Day? Golden State did have two nights off after that win to digest and prepare.
Perhaps the absence of Green on the post and as one of the key cogs in the offense is what doomed the Warriors. Golden State should be better in their second game playing without Green, but the Nuggets would take another 23 point game from Steph Curry, knowing what he can do and has done to this team in the past. Curry had 32, 53, and 35 points as the Warriors were 2-1 against the Nuggets last season.
Jokic Needs Some Help
The Nuggets big man was his usual great self in Tuesday night’s win over the Warriors, taking advantage of a thin Golden State interior to the tune of 22 points and 19 rebounds. He just missed his third straight 20+ point, 20+ rebound game and will likely dominate again in Thursday’s rematch.
Mike Malone also got 21 points out of Will Barton in the win over Golden State, but no other Nuggets player scored in double figures. Monte Morris missed Tuesday’s game with a knee injury, and Aaron Gordon has been out since the 22nd, nursing a hamstring strain.
It would be a huge boost if one or both of those questionable players could return to the lineup, as well as Austin Rivers, who suffered a thumb injury on Tuesday. Rivers may want to be on the floor, considering the Warriors announcers suggested he was overpaid playing in Los Angeles because his father Doc was the coach.
Warriors at Nuggets Pick
Even after a dominating (1st half) performance against Golden State on Tuesday, the Nuggets are a +5 point underdog even back at Ball Arena on Thursday night. GSW has no answer for Jokic on the interior (few teams do), but the Warriors also simply do not lose two in a row.
The Warriors don’t lose two in a row with Draymond Green in the lineup, that is. His importance is really on display in his absence, but Golden State does get some reinforcements with Jordan Poole (17.9 ppg), clearing the health and safety protocols.
Poole’s return makes the Golden State bench stronger with Gary Payton II returning to his normal reserve role, and it’s something the Nuggets just can’t contend with if Morris, Gordon, and Rivers are unable to go.
Golden State gets some revenge in this spot.