Warriors’ instant analysis: Winning streak ends in Denver despite big games from Podziemski and Porzingis
Warriors’ instant analysis: Winning streak ends in Denver despite big games from Podziemski and Porzingis
The Warriors take a lead into halftime but cannot overcome the Nuggets’ third-quarter avalanche.
Something had to give at Denver’s Ball Arena on Sunday night. The Warrior traveled to Colorado on a three-game winning streak, facing a Denver team that had won five straight games.
Despite attempting to disrupt the Nuggets’ balletic Nikola Jokic-led offense with hard play, the Steph Curry-less Warriors ran out of steam late in a 116-93 loss.
The Warriors led at halftime, but the Nuggets took charge in the third quarter, outscoring Golden State 40-21.
Brandin Podziemski scored 23 points and hit 5 of 8 3-pointers, while Kristaps Porzingis scored 23 points and nailed 5 of 5 triples, his fifth game with at least 20 points as a Warriors player.
Jokic led Denver with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, while Jamal Murray added 20.
A fight broke out with 9:57 left in the second quarter when Zeke Nnaji fouled Gary Payton II to stop a fastbreak. LJ Cryer collided with Jamal Murray, then Melton, Payton, and Nnaji began shoving one another following the instigating incident.
Melton, Payton, and Nnaji all received technical fouls. Payton’s fireworks didn’t stop there, as he was a key part of the Warriors’ 19-2 run to start the quarter.
With 3:54 remaining in the quarter, Payton forearm-checked Peyton Watson on a rebound attempt, sending the Nuggets’ wing sprawling.
Payton was called for a flagrant foul, but the Warriors held on to lead 53-46 at halftime. It was an advantage that would not withstand Jokic’s onslaught in the third quarter, when he scored 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists to propel the Nuggets to a lead they would not surrender.
The Warriors (36-39) remain the 10th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They’ll return to the Bay Area to face the Spurs on Wednesday.
Seth Curry returns.
While Steph Curry recovers from runner’s knee, the Warriors welcome back his younger brother on Sunday.
Seth Curry has returned to the active roster after missing the previous eight games due to a thigh injury. He was only available to participate in his sixth game of the season, having missed the majority of them due to sciatica.
He had a modest return to action, scoring zero points on 0 of 1 shooting in seven minutes.
Keeping with the Warriors’ injury-plagued season, rookie sensation Will Richard was sidelined with a left heel ailment.
In addition, Quinten Post exited in the second quarter, appearing to worsen his ailing right foot. The Warriors were already without Al Horford (calf).
Kerr’s encouraging words
With baseball season officially begun—even if nobody apparently told the 0-3 Giants—every team believes it can win a World Series.
But few, if any, consider how painful it will be to lose a title in October, as Blue Jays manager John Schneider experienced last season when his team blew a 3-2 series lead to the Dodgers.
It is something Warriors coach Steve Kerr can connect to.
The Toronto manager told The Athletic that Kerr wrote a handwritten message to Schneider the day after Game 7 of the World Series, but the envelope was unopened until this week.
“The pain was real,” Kerr stated. “The group’s character and connection, however, always withstand terrible losses. The loss will not define you, but how you and your teammates handled yourselves afterwards will.
Kerr has won four titles with the Warriors, but he has also lost two Finals games. The most notable was the 2016 Finals, when the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I like the idea of coaches supporting other coaches,” Kerr told The Athletic. “It’s a great profession, but it’s also a hard one.”