Warriors aim to take season series over peaking Nuggets
Riding their first three-game winning streak in more than two months, the Golden State Warriors will try to make it four in a row when they visit the surging Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
Golden State (36-38) holds the 10th and final spot in the play-in, trailing Portland by half a game with eight games left. The Warriors still have a chance to reach the playoffs despite significant injuries.
Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (torn patella) are out for the season, Al Horford has been sidelined for two weeks with a calf injury and Steph Curry has missed 24 straight games with a troublesome knee and won't play Sunday night.
Curry is close to returning, but Golden State is being cautious with its 38-year-old star.
"We're not bringing him back (only) for the play-in game," head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN. "He'd need to play some games. We need to give him a runway if this is going to work. And we are running out of games. That's fair to say."
Without Curry, the Warriors have relied on different players to pick up the scoring slack. In Friday night's win over Washington, Kristaps Porzingis had 28 points, the fourth time in 10 games since coming from Atlanta in a trade that he has put up 20 or more points.
Porzingis is averaging 17.1 points between the Hawks and Golden State but has upped that to 17.7 in March.
The only player to appear in all 74 games for the Warriors is Brandin Podziemski, who is averaging 13.2 points.
Golden State has won two of the first three meetings with Denver and can take the season series Sunday night. The Nuggets (47-28) have won five in a row and eight of their last 10 to stay in the hunt for a top seed in the Western Conference.
Denver's last two victories haven't been easy despite playing teams fighting for a high draft pick. The Nuggets held off Dallas on Wednesday night behind huge games from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic and then had to rally from down 13 to beat Utah on Friday night.
"I just think our energy from the beginning of the game has to be better. We've had a lot of slow starts as of late," head coach David Adelman said. "Obviously, we're very talented offensively, we can always make a run, get back in games, but we shouldn't have to work our way into every game. You have to come with more purpose to start the game."
Denver is in the midst of playing nine of its final 12 games at home and has taken advantage of the schedule. The Nuggets are fourth in the West, a game and a half ahead of Minnesota and a game and a half behind the Los Angeles Lakers for third.
The Warriors will have to slow down Jokic and Murray, who are playing well down the stretch. Jokic leads the team in scoring (27.9), rebounds (12.8) and assists (10.8) and is on the verge of averaging a triple-double for the second straight season.
Murray, who is averaging a career-high 25.5 points, has scored 31 and 53 in the last two games.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:31 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
| 5:33 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point running jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 44-34 | |
| 5:37 | Pat Spencer defensive rebound | |||
| 5:37 | Brandin Podziemski blocks Julian Strawther's two point driving layup | |||
| 5:46 | +2 | Gary Payton II makes two point floating jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 41-34 | |
| 5:56 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point pullup jump shot | 39-34 | |
| 6:10 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 39-32 | |
| 6:30 | Gary Payton II defensive rebound | |||
| 6:32 | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
| 6:36 | Nate Williams personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
| 6:48 | +2 | Gary Payton II makes two point running layup (Pat Spencer assists) | 36-32 | |
| 6:54 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Brandin Podziemski steals) | |||
| 7:11 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
| 7:11 | +2 | Gary Payton II makes two point running layup (Pat Spencer assists) | 34-32 | |
| 7:19 | Brandin Podziemski defensive rebound | |||
| 7:19 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
| 7:44 | +2 | Draymond Green makes two point cutting layup (Brandin Podziemski assists) | 32-32 | |
| 7:56 | Pat Spencer defensive rebound | |||
| 8:01 | Jamal Murray misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
| 8:30 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 30-32 | |
| 8:51 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot | 28-32 | |
| 9:03 | Pat Spencer personal foul (Tim Hardaway Jr. draws the foul) | |||
| 9:18 | Draymond Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
| 9:35 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Draymond Green steals) | |||
| 9:46 | Gui Santos turnover (bad pass) (Bruce Brown steals) | |||
| 9:57 | +1 | Jamal Murray makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 28-29 | |
| 9:57 | Gary Payton II technical foul | |||
| 9:57 | De'Anthony Melton technical foul (Double) | |||
| 9:57 | Zeke Nnaji technical foul (Double) | |||
| 9:57 | Zeke Nnaji personal foul (Gary Payton II draws the foul) | |||
| 9:59 | Jamal Murray turnover (lost ball) (De'Anthony Melton steals) | |||
| 10:10 | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | |||
| 10:13 | De'Anthony Melton misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
| 10:20 | Gary Payton II defensive rebound | |||
| 10:24 | Jamal Murray misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
| 10:38 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
| 10:43 | De'Anthony Melton misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:46 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
| 10:46 | Cameron Johnson blocks Gui Santos's two point driving layup | |||
| 11:01 | +3 | Bruce Brown makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 28-28 | |
| 11:05 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
| 11:06 | Cameron Johnson misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
| 11:25 | Warriors turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
| 11:48 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-25 |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | End of period | |||
| 0:00 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
| 0:00 | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | |||
| 0:00 | Warriors turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
| 0:26 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 28-23 | |
| 0:37 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point stepback jump shot (Brandin Podziemski assists) | 28-21 | |
| 0:39 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
| 0:39 | Spencer Jones blocks Gui Santos's two point cutting layup | |||
| 0:41 | Quinten Post offensive rebound | |||
| 0:44 | Gui Santos misses three point jump shot | |||
| 1:01 | Warriors defensive rebound | |||
| 1:03 | Cameron Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
| 1:22 | +2 | Brandin Podziemski makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Gui Santos assists) | 25-21 | |
| 1:35 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
| 1:36 | Nate Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
| 1:51 | Bruce Brown personal foul (Brandin Podziemski draws the foul) | |||
| 1:54 | Brandin Podziemski defensive rebound | |||
| 1:59 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
| 2:03 | Nate Williams turnover (bad pass) (Tim Hardaway Jr. steals) | |||
| 2:24 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point floating jump shot (Spencer Jones assists) | 23-21 | |
| 2:39 | +2 | Brandin Podziemski makes two point driving floating jump shot | 23-19 | |
| 2:53 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point running layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 21-19 | |
| 2:57 | Kristaps Porzingis turnover (bad pass) (Spencer Jones steals) | |||
| 3:17 | Nate Williams defensive rebound | |||
| 3:19 | Jamal Murray misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
| 3:19 | Warriors 60 second timeout | |||
| 3:19 | Pat Spencer shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
| 3:19 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 21-17 | |
| 3:33 | +3 | Gui Santos makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 21-15 | |
| 3:47 | Spencer Jones turnover (bad pass) (Pat Spencer steals) | |||
| 3:55 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
| 3:59 | Nate Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
| 4:15 | Nate Williams defensive rebound | |||
| 4:17 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
| 4:21 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
| 4:24 | Gui Santos misses three point jump shot | |||
| 4:31 | Spencer Jones personal foul (Gui Santos draws the foul) | |||
| 4:38 | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-15 | |
| 4:38 | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-14 | |
| 4:38 | Gary Payton II shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
| 4:46 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
| 4:50 | Pat Spencer misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
| 4:54 | Gary Payton II offensive rebound | |||
| 4:59 | Draymond Green misses three point jump shot | |||
| 5:17 | Gary Payton II defensive rebound | |||
| 5:19 | Nikola Jokic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
| 5:33 | +3 | Draymond Green makes three point jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 18-13 | |
| 5:46 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
| 5:49 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
| 5:59 | Gui Santos personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
| 6:17 | +2 | Pat Spencer makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 15-13 | |
| 6:32 | Gui Santos defensive rebound | |||
| 6:33 | Nikola Jokic misses two point bank jump shot | |||
| 6:46 | +1 | Gary Payton II makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-13 | |
| 6:46 | Jamal Murray shooting foul (Gary Payton II draws the foul) | |||
| 6:46 | +2 | Gary Payton II makes two point cutting layup (Draymond Green assists) | 12-13 | |
| 6:55 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
| 6:55 | Peyton Watson personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
| 7:01 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
| 7:04 | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | |||
| 7:16 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
| 7:18 | LJ Cryer misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
| 7:33 | +3 | Peyton Watson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 10-13 | |
| 7:38 | Gary Payton II personal foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | |||
| 7:41 | Draymond Green personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
| 7:45 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
| 7:49 | De'Anthony Melton misses three point jump shot | |||
| 8:05 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 10-10 | |
| 8:20 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
| 8:25 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
| 8:39 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
| 8:40 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
| 8:54 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
| 8:57 | Draymond Green misses three point jump shot | |||
| 9:08 | Gui Santos defensive rebound | |||
| 9:12 | Jamal Murray misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
| 9:34 | +3 | Draymond Green makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 10-7 | |
| 9:50 | Brandin Podziemski defensive rebound | |||
| 9:53 | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:06 | +2 | Gui Santos makes two point cutting layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 7-7 | |
| 10:19 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-7 | |
| 10:27 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
| 10:29 | Brandin Podziemski misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:30 | Gui Santos offensive rebound | |||
| 10:34 | Draymond Green misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:42 | Warriors defensive rebound | |||
| 10:45 | Cameron Johnson misses three point running jump shot | |||
| 10:47 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
| 10:50 | Brandin Podziemski misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
| 11:01 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-5 | |
| 11:08 | +2 | Draymond Green makes two point driving layup (De'Anthony Melton assists) | 5-3 | |
| 11:25 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 3-3 | |
| 11:45 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point stepback jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 3-0 | |
| 12:00 | Kristaps Porzingis vs. Nikola Jokic (Draymond Green gains possession) |
| Min. Per Game | ||
| Pts. Per Game | ||
| Ast. Per Game | ||
| Reb. Per Game | ||
| Field Goal % | ||
| Three Point % | ||
| Free Throw % |
| Nuggets 60 second timeout | 5:31 |
| |
+ 3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point running jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 5:33 |
| Pat Spencer defensive rebound | 5:37 |
| Brandin Podziemski blocks Julian Strawther's two point driving layup | 5:37 |
| |
+ 2 | Gary Payton II makes two point floating jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 5:46 |
| |
+ 2 | Bruce Brown makes two point pullup jump shot | 5:56 |
| |
+ 3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Pat Spencer assists) | 6:10 |
| Gary Payton II defensive rebound | 6:30 |
| Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | 6:32 |
| Nate Williams personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | 6:36 |
| |
+ 2 | Gary Payton II makes two point running layup (Pat Spencer assists) | 6:48 |
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Points | 44 | 34 |
| Field Goals | 18-35 (51.4%) | 13-30 (43.3%) |
| 3-Pointers | 7-20 (35.0%) | 5-14 (35.7%) |
| Free Throws | 1-1 (100.0%) | 3-4 (75.0%) |
| Total Rebounds | 23 | 13 |
| Offensive | 3 | 0 |
| Defensive | 15 | 11 |
| Team | 5 | 2 |
| Assists | 16 | 10 |
| Steals | 4 | 3 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 4 |
| Fouls | 7 | 5 |
| Technicals | 2 | 1 |
| Key Players | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
K. Porzingis C | 17.1 PPG | 4.7 RPG | 2.6 APG | 43.4 FG% |
|
|
J. Murray PG | 25.5 PPG | 4.4 RPG | 7.2 APG | 48.3 FG% |
| Top Scorers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. Porzingis C | 14 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST | ||
| J. Murray PG | 9 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | ||
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| K. Porzingis | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5/6 | 4/4 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 19 |
| G. Payton II | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4/4 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 13 |
| B. Podziemski | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2/4 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +16 | 13 |
| P. Spencer | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +18 | 17 |
| N. Williams | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/2 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +7 | 1 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| K. Porzingis | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5/6 | 4/4 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 19 |
| G. Payton II | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4/4 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 13 |
| B. Podziemski | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2/4 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +16 | 13 |
| P. Spencer | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +18 | 17 |
| N. Williams | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/2 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +7 | 1 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| S. Curry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| Q. Post | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1 |
| L. Cryer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 0 |
| O. Yurtseven | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| M. Leons | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 44 | 18 | 16 | 18/35 | 7/20 | 1/1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 | +51 | - |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Murray | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3/7 | 0/1 | 3/4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 17 |
| N. Jokic | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3/7 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -13 | 18 |
| B. Brown | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3/3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 8 |
| C. Braun | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -12 | 3 |
| J. Strawther | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -8 | 0 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Murray | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3/7 | 0/1 | 3/4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 17 |
| N. Jokic | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3/7 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -13 | 18 |
| B. Brown | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3/3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 8 |
| C. Braun | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -12 | 3 |
| J. Strawther | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -8 | 0 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| T. Hardaway Jr. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1/4 | 1/4 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 5 |
| S. Jones | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 3 |
| Z. Nnaji | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 1 |
| J. Valanciunas | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| A. Gordon | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| T. Jones | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| K. Simpson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| D. Holmes II | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| C. Jones | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Pickett | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| D. Roddy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13/30 | 5/14 | 3/4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11 | -51 | - |