The Denver Nuggets Jeff Green (32) and the Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga (00) jump for the basketball at Ball Arena in Denver on Sun Apr 2, 2023 (@warriors photo)

     By Barbara Mason

Sunday evening the Golden State Warriors (41-38) took on the Denver Nuggets (52-26) at Ball Arena. The Nuggets sit on top of the Western Conference and the Warriors could not bring their A-game against the Nuggets in a road game in Denver losing 112-110.

The Warriors have struggled mightily on the road this season and couldn’t find a way to handle this game. Nikola Jokic did not play in this game out with a calf issue missing a third game.

The Warriors handled the first quarter very well leading after the first twelve minutes 36-26. Golden State had a solid start, they were attacking the basket and put out some very good defense. The Warriors have won their last two road games and were looking to make it three. If the first 12 minutes were any indication, the Warriors play in this game was very promising.

The Warriors continued on the same path in the second quarter and two minutes into the quarter led 44-31. The Warriors led by as much as fifteen points in the quarter but at 2:44 the Nuggets had trimmed the Golden State lead to five 56-51. Denver had been cold from beyond the arc but started to heat up as the first half came to an end. The Warriors had the lead at the half 61-58 but the Nuggets owned the later part of the second quarter.

Golden State started adding to their lead in the third quarter 71-63 only to see it dissolve at 7:21. Denver tied up the game 71-71. For the first time since the start of the game the Nuggets took the lead 73-71. Both teams were having a miserable night shooting three’s. Denver was seven of 27 and the Warriors were 7 of 30. After the first three quarters the Nuggets ha a 89-87 lead. This game was still up for grabs.

The best two-point shooting team in the league started to show their muscle in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets took a 105-96 lead with 5:40 left in the game. Denver was in control outplaying the Warriors in the second half and leading 109-98 with under four minutes left in the game. This was the Nuggets largest lead of the game and they showed no signs of slowing down. The Nuggets got a two point win.

The bottom line is that the Warriors just didn’t shoot well enough to win this game. Stephen Curry finished with 21 points but was two of 13 from downtown. Off the bench Jordan Poole had 17 points. The Warriors were able to hang in this game for three quarters but fell short in the fourth quarter unable to finish. The promise that the Warriors showed in the first half vanished in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.

The Warriors did make a valiant effort in the final two minutes of this game. The Nuggets had an 11 point lead 112-101 but Golden State pulled to within two points. Klay Thompson had a great look with 4.1 left on the clock to win the game. He missed and the Warriors came up a bucket short. It was a wild finish and Golden State fought hard to the very end.

Tuesday night the Warriors will be back home at Chase taking on the OKC Thunder. Tipoff is scheduled 7:00 PM.