Category: Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins (left) reaches up to try and defend the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic (right) in game 4 of the NBA Playoffs at the Ball Center in Denver on Sun Apr 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast:

#1 The Denver Nuggets had to the home floor and pretty much stayed ahead of Golden State in the first half but this is a Warriors team you could never count out.

#2 In that first half the Nuggets defense seemed to have something on Warriors top scorers Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry keeping them off balance on their shots with some improved defense.

#3 The Nuggets held the lead in both halves and got offensive help from Nikola Jokic who led with 37 points, Monte Morris 24 points, and Aaron Gordon 21 points.

#4 Jokic is one of the tougher Nuggets to defend he and his teammates will need that same kind of energy they had in game four to stay alive in game five but facing players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole on offense will be another big test.

#5 Wednesday night will be game #5 with the Warriors up four games to one, can Warrior head coach Steve Kerr might think “no pressure” going into what could be the Nuggets last game of the season in Denver?

Join Barbara for the Golden State Warriors playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, is defended by the Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney, center, and forward Draymond Green at the Ball Arena in Denver during game 4 of the NBA Playoffs (AP News photo)

Warriors Suffer Crushing Loss to Denver 126-121

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors led their series against the Denver Nuggets 3-0. This afternoon the Warriors tried to finish off Denver to win the series. While this was not a critical game for Golden State a win would give the team considerable time to rest and heal.

More time for Stephen Curry especially and Jordan Poole who has been nursing his shooting wrist at times. It’s a given that extra time off would be of great benefit for the entire team.

This was the last chance for the Nuggets so you can bet they would be playing their A-game in Game Four. For Denver it was win or go home. Win they did as they had the lead throughout the game no doubt they’re best game against Golden State in a 126-121.

The Nuggets won the first quarter 26-21 and went on to win the second quarter 37-31 leading at the half 63-52. Nikola Jokic had a great first quarter but cooled off a bit in the second. He still had twenty plus points in the first half.

When Jokic gets into a rhythm it can spell disaster for any team. He would finish the first three quarters with 33 points.

With under three minutes left in the game the Warriors were down by one point 117-116. This became a wild game after a horribly slow three quarters from Golden State.

With 1:47 left Curry tied the game at 119 with a three points play, a basket and free throw. The Nuggets would turn the ball over and Curry would give the Warriors the lead 121-119. Jokic would come right back to tie the game 121-121.

Monte Morris would give the Nuggets the lead 123-121and Will Barton would seal the deal with a three-point jumper to beat the Warriors. Denver had fought off elimination and now it would be Game Five back at Chase Center. There will be no brooms in this series.

This was a hard fought game but when Jokic shoots for 37 points it makes it very tough. He was dominate throughout the entire game.

This was his best game of the series and he got a lot of help from Monte Morris, Aaron Gordon, Bones Hyland and DeMarcus Cousins all shooting double digits. Denver needed their entire team to play lights out in order to beat the Warriors.

An awful lot went wrong for the Warriors. They fought from uphill for most of the game. Curry had a very tough first half entering the game earlier than expected when Klay Thompson committed two very early fouls. It became very apparent that he was just not ready to go in.

The team missed far too many open shots and Curry missing four free throws was also not something we see too often if at all. Poole had a quiet game with only eleven points so it was really amazing that the Warriors almost pulled this game out. This was a very disappointing game for the team.

Denver played much better than the Warriors in this game. “Steph made some brilliant plays,” said Head Coach Steve Kerr in regards to the final two minutes of the game. “We just started too late to win a road game. We got away from our game plan,” he said.

So now this series will head back to Chase Center for a Game Five on Wednesday. There will a bit of time to rest up for the team and finish off this series at home. Tipoff will be at 7:00 PM.

Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) reacts after hitting a basket and drawing a foul against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on Thu Apr 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Take A 3-0 Series Lead in Denver win game 3 118-113

By Barbara Mason

Last Saturday and Monday night the Golden State Warriors took care of the Denver Nuggets and now find themselves leading in the series 2-0. Thursday night the Warriors got a taste of playoff basketball at Ball Arena. The Nuggets had their fan base behind them in this game which always gives the home team a definite edge.

The Warriors needed to expect something very different from games one and two if they hope to take a commanding lead in this series. Golden State had to adapt to whatever it was that the Nuggets come out with in game 3. The Warriors needed to dictate the pace and as always protect the ball. They pulled it off with a five point win to take game 3, 118-113.

The first two games of this series saw a very competitive first quarter. The Nuggets led in both of those first quarters by a single digit. The Warriors turned both games around in the second half winning by double digits.

They needed a better start in game three and things were a whole lot easier for the Warriors and Golden State defended better. The team had the same lineup as the first two games with Stephen Curry on the bench to start the game.

Game 3 recap: The Warriors wanted to have a better start and in the first five minutes of the first quarter they had a great start, a start that was lacking in the first two games.

They had a 15-8 lead and so far so good. For the moment they were not facing battling from behind. In basketball momentum can change on a dime and this was the case in the first quarter of the game.

The Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic tied up the game at 22 with 4:29 left in the opening quarter. Both teams were shooting 60%. The Warriors led at the end of one 34-32. Jokic had already shot for 12 points and both teams were playing at a very high level.

The back court and the guards for Golden State were getting the job done in the second quarter. Both teams continued to shoot lights out. Four minutes into the second quarter the Warriors were shooting at 63% and Denver at 61%.

The Warriors have been very good on the road as if they enjoy going into hostile territory. It seems to bring out the best in them. The Warriors were 11 of 19 from beyond the arc with 4:24 left in the first half and had their largest lead in this game 60-49.

In the closing minutes of the second quarter, the Warriors had some untimely turnovers but despite that they led at the half 69-59. The Nuggets made a run in the final minutes of the half but the Warriors pushed back. At halftime Golden State was shooting at 68%.

The Warriors had bottled up Aaron Gordon big time allowing only five points in the half. They also did a good job on Jokic allowing only six points in the second quarter.

The Warriors would need to keep him out of the paint in the second half. Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Curry and Gary Payton II all finished the first half of basketball in double digits. The team was 12 of 21 on three’s threw two quarters.

It was all Denver in the third quarter outscoring the Warriors 30-18. The Nuggets led after three quarters 89-87. This was the best game that Denver had played in this series by far. It was a crazy final quarter of basketball.

The Nuggets were playing for their playoff lives. The final four minutes was a free throw fest. Both teams had lost their rhythm and were spending most of their time shooting free throws. With 3:20 remaining the Nuggets took a 111-109 lead. There had been eleven ties in the game and this one was going down to the wire.

With 40.8 left on the clock the Warriors were holding onto a 116-111 lead. After a miserable third quarter Golden State came roaring back in the fourth. Curry would finish off Denver with a single free throw. The final was 118-113 and the Warriors had taken a 3-0 series lead.

Poole and Curry both finished with 27 points apiece and Thompson had 26 points in an amazing effort. Curry’s minute restriction appears to have been lifted. He played 31 minutes in this game. The heartbeat of the team Draymond Green had 10 rebounds.

“I don’t think we played very well,” said Green after the game. “We’ve got to get out of here with a win,” was what he told the team. That was the word from Green and the team responded. The Warriors had survived an ugly third quarter to take this game home in the fourth.

The fourth game of this series will be played on Sunday in Denver. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30.

Stephen Curry (30) has encouraged teammate Jordan Poole (3) to continue to dominate for the Golden State Warriors against the Denver Nuggets as seen here in game 2 on Mon Apr 18, 2022 at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with David:

#1 The Golden State Warriors have been simply taking control of the Denver Nuggets in this first round of playoffs and the Nuggets just look like they don’t stand a chance against the Warriors as the series goes back to Denver for game 3 on Thursday night.

#2 The Warriors Jordan Poole has stepped up in recent games prior to the playoffs while Stephen Curry had been out with a foot injury. Curry has played off the bench and has cashed in but Curry and teammate Klay Thompson has been much impressed with Poole’s handiwork on offense.

#3 Game 3 Thursday night the Warriors are up 2-0 as the series is headed to Denver do you see the Warriors continuing to make work of the Nuggets in Denver for game 3?

Join David though out the Warriors post season action for the Warriors podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole during game two of the NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Apr 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Take A 2-0 Series Lead Beating Denver 126-106

By Barbara Mason

Monday night Game Two got underway at Chase Center between the Golden State Warriors (53-29) and the Denver Nuggets (48-34). The Warriors won Game One decisively 123-107. The Warriors saw the same starting roster as Game One with Jordan Poole again in the lineup. The Warriors knocked down game two as well with a 20 point victory 126-106 commanding victory at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The first quarter was reminiscent of Game one with yet another slow start for the Warriors. After one quarter the Warriors trailed by a single point 26-25 as they did in last night’s game.

Turnovers and missed shots coupled with some very good play by the Nuggets really hurt Golden State. Despite the lackluster play trailing by one point was a win for the Warriors. Nikola Jokic had 12 points in the quarter and the Warriors were having some real problems with him.

In the second quarter the Nuggets really amped it up leading by 12 points in the game before Golden State made some changes. Head Coach Steve Kerr unleashed a lethal trio in the second half of the quarter.

Denver had a lot of trouble containing Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. Guarding these three was a major challenge and Denver was struggling big-time. This small ball lineup gave the Warriors a 40-12 run in the second quarter and the Nuggets were unable to handle these guys. The Warriors had been down by 12 and finished the half up by six points. 57-51.

After one half of basketball, Jokic had 16 points. The dangerous trio all finished with double digits. With one half of basketball in the books this game looked very much like the first half of Game One.

The Warriors continued to extend their lead in the third quarter. Golden State was coming up with some great defensive possessions and with three minutes left in the quarter the Warriors led 87-68. If anyone missed Game One they got to see it in Game Two in an absolute replication.

The Warriors exploded in the third quarter leading 101-81. After three quarters Poole had 27 points and Curry had 26 points. The team had 44 points in the third quarter alone. Golden State was one quarter away from a 2-0 series lead. The Nuggets were getting smothered by a deluge of Warrior excellence.

In the fourth quarter Jokic would foul out with seven minutes left in the game. Curry put the game on ice with under five minutes left in the game. In 23 minutes he had shot 34 points. Poole would finish with 29 points and Thompson with 21. It was another great dominating game for Golden State. Between Thompson, Curry and Poole they dropped 84 points and right now they look close to unbeatable.

The Warriors will get a couple of days off before taking on the Nuggets Thursday night in Game Three at Ball Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

In first half action at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sat Apr 16, 2022 Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, left, is congratulated by guard Stephen Curry (30) in game one of the NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 Does Warrior head coach Steve Kerr really have a tough decision to make deciding to go with Stephen Curry or Jordan Poole who scored 30 in game one against the Denver Nuggets.

#2 The Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets led with 25 points on Saturday not enough to catch the Warriors who beat them by 16 points.

#3 Curry who scored 16 said that he had a good time watching Poole work his offensive magic who admired his ability to be the leading scorer.

#4 Barbara, Klay Thompson contributed with 19 points was second in scoring the Warriors had to be glad to have him healthy considering all that he’s been through before this season.

#5 Warriors host the Nuggets tonight for game 2 at Chase Center do you see this being a competitive contest and the Nuggets will really have to get up for this one or the Warriors should handle them just like they did in game one.

Join Barbara Mason for the Warriors podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com