Determined to redeem themselves for their poor performance in Utah, the Nuggets, deprived of Jamal Murray spared, took this match by the horns against the much too tender Warriors in the first half. Denver was up to 20 points ahead before seeing the Warriors swoop down on them in the last minute.
The start of the match is offensive. The two teams deliver 24 assists and each shoot more than 65% success. In the absence of Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, then Bone Hyland, dynamites the defense of Golden State (40-34). Steve Kerr then tries the experience of a five Poole – Di Vincenzo – Kuminga – JaMychal Green – Wiseman to start the second quarter. The latter lose five balls in three minutes, and the trio Bones Hyland – Jeff Green – DeAndre Jordan drives the point home (55-41). The holders do not rectify the situation, with an address at half mast (5/22 from afar) while the Nuggets are on fire and have an 18-point lead at the break (70-52)!
In the wake of the trio Draymond Green – Stephen Curry – Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors finally raised their tone in defense and immediately found rhythm and address. They pass a 22-9 to their opponent to come back to -7 (86-79). Golden State’s momentum, however, comes to a standstill due to three new stray bullets that allow Nikola Jokic, Bruce Brown, and Bones Hyland to keep the Dubs at bay (98-88).
Steve Kerr then decides to launch an unprecedented five with the two Greens, Draymond and JaMychal, alongside Wiggins, Moody, and Curry. Draymond Green then sows panic in the Nuggets’ attack, and two award-winning shots from Stephen Curry allow the Warriors to return to -5 (116-11). While Denver seems to be holding the right end at +10 and 75 seconds to go, the Dubs try everything for once. Curry and Thompson hit the mark from afar, Denver loses three balls and here is Golden State with an overtime ball 14 seconds from the buzzer.
Unfortunately for them, Klay Thompson rushes and Denver gets a deserved victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Nuggets’ dream halftime. Dominated by the Jazz in their first game, the Nuggets arrived at the Chase Center with the desire to redeem themselves. If they took advantage of Golden State’s passive defense, Nikola Jokic’s teammates not only performed well, but they put their best foot forward. They pass a 22-7 to the Warriors straddling the first and second quarter thanks to a devilish three-point address (8/14) and also thanks to defensive activity that broke the rhythm of Golden State. If Jokic (14 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) was equal to himself, the entire Denver collective followed suit with six days at seven points or more, including 11 each for Michael Porter Jr and Bones Hyland.
– The Evolution of Bones Hyland. Author of an encouraging rookie season, Hyland seems to have turned a corner at the start of the season. Whoever operates in a Jamal Crawford role often overdid it last season and got lost in his dribbling. This night against the defending champion, he showed patience to find intervals and attack the circle, while keeping his lucidity to read the defense and serve caviars of all kinds for his interiors near the circle or for his shooters in the corners.
– A crippling lack of rigor for the Warriors. 70 points conceded in the first half, a defense on carrier exceeded, the offensive rebound not locked, the Warriors fell back into the traditional through this night to give life to the Nuggets. They had to chase the score throughout the game and each of their “runs” was reduced to nothing by a festival of stray bullets. They lost 19 over the whole match, offering 27 points to their opponent. The Nuggets lost one more but were much stronger than Golden State.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Jokic. The double MVP left his mark on the meeting in an inevitable way. He finished the game in triple double with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
✅ Michael Porter Jr – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Bruce Brown. During the playoffs, Jokic was too lonely, the return of Michael Porter Jr, and the arrivals of KCP and Bruce Brown changed the game and it showed last night. All three players scored 54 points, 11/20 from three-pointers, to fend off every comeback attempt by Golden State.
✅ Bones Hyland. As mentioned above, Hyland played his role as a detonator when he came off the bench wonderfully. He finished with 14 points and 5 assists.
✅ Stephen Curry – Andrew Wiggins. They were the two best Warriors tonight. Curry finished with 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Wiggins added 23 points and 8 rebounds.
✅ ⛔Draymond Green. Passive in the first half, Green raised his intensity to wake up Golden State. He scored his 13 points after the break to go with his 9 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.
⛔ Jordan Poole. Golden State’s sixth luxury man never found his groove. He finished with 7 points, 7 assists, and 4 drop balls. More than stats, Poole has also gotten lost several times in his dribbling streaks.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State : The Warriors reunite with Mike Brown when they travel to Sacramento on Sunday.
Denver: The Nuggets go back-to-back against OKC for their first home game this season.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
