Look, the Warriors and Nuggets have been trading blows all season, and this one in Denver felt like another chapter in a long, gritty playoff preview. Golden State, down by six with under three minutes to play, somehow found a way to snatch a 118-115 victory. Stephen Curry, who else, dropped 10 of his 38 points in the final two minutes, including a ridiculous step-back three over Aaron Gordon that effectively sealed it with 34 seconds left.
Thing is, the Nuggets controlled most of the second half. Nikola Jokic was doing Nikola Jokic things, racking up 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists for his league-leading 20th triple-double. He was carving up the Warriors' interior defense, especially in the third quarter when Denver pushed their lead to 12. But Golden State just wouldn't quit, and their veteran savvy showed when it mattered most.
Kerr's Small Ball Gambit Pays Off
Steve Kerr made a bold move in the fourth, going super small with Draymond Green at center for extended stretches. This meant Kevon Looney, who had battled admirably against Jokic for 20 minutes, sat for the entire final frame. It was a gamble, sacrificing some interior bulk for more perimeter speed and shooting, but it worked.
That lineup, featuring Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, and Green, started chipping away at the lead. Wiggins hit a couple of clutch mid-range jumpers, and Kuminga's athleticism defensively put some pressure on Jamal Murray, forcing him into a few tough looks. Murray finished with 22 points, but he shot just 8-for-21 from the field, and his late-game decision-making felt a little rushed.
And let's be real, the Warriors live and die by the three-pointer. They hit 18 of them against Denver's 10. That's a huge difference, especially when you consider Curry alone had six. When Golden State gets hot from deep, they're nearly impossible to contain, even for a disciplined defensive team like the Nuggets.
Jokic's Frustration and Malone's Missed Opportunity
Nikola Jokic looked visibly frustrated in the final possessions. He had the ball in his hands, but the Warriors' quick rotations and timely double-teams forced him into some passes he didn't want to make. One sequence saw him try to thread a pass to Michael Porter Jr. in the corner, only for Draymond Green to tip it away, leading to a Curry transition bucket.
Coach Michael Malone might look back at this one and wonder if he should've called a timeout sooner during the Warriors' late surge. Golden State went on an 11-2 run over a two-minute span to take the lead, and Denver seemed a step slow in adjusting. Porter Jr. had a solid night with 24 points and 8 rebounds, but he went quiet down the stretch, missing his last three shots from the field.
I think Malone also needs to consider getting more out of his bench. The Nuggets' reserves contributed only 18 points, compared to Golden State's 28. Reggie Jackson had 8 points, but his defense against Curry was, let's just say, a work in progress. When your starters play heavy minutes and can't close it out, that bench production becomes even more critical.
What This Means for the Playoff Picture
This win is huge for the Warriors. They're now 45-28, solidifying their spot as the 5th seed in the Western Conference, putting a little more distance between themselves and the Suns. More importantly, it shows they can still beat a top-tier team on the road in a high-pressure situation. That kind of mental toughness is invaluable heading into April.
For the Nuggets, who now sit at 50-24, this loss stings, but it's not a disaster. They're still comfortably atop the Western Conference standings. However, losing at home to a potential second-round opponent like the Warriors, especially after leading late, raises some questions about their ability to close out tight games against elite competition. They've dropped two of their last three, with the other loss coming against the Timberwolves, another strong West contender.
The Warriors now head home for a matchup against the reeling Blazers, a game they absolutely should win. The Nuggets, on the other hand, have a tough road trip coming up, starting with a visit to the Clippers, who are fighting for home-court advantage. That's going to be another test of their resolve, and they can't afford to let this late-game collapse linger.
Bold Prediction: Despite this loss, the Nuggets will still finish as the #1 seed in the West, but they'll face a tougher-than-expected challenge from a healthy Warriors team if they meet in the playoffs, going seven games.