With 12 wins in their last 14 games, the Nuggets were on a very good dynamic before hosting the Warriors. Better, Denver had just subdued the B team of the Dubs this week in a “catch-up” match.
But tonight, for their fourth game in five days, the Nuggets seemed to run out of gas late in the game, like their reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (23 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) powerless last quarter. Conversely, the fresher Warriors finished with a bang, with a 13-0 marked by two consecutive 3-pointers from Jordan Poole to win at the “Mile High City” (113-102) .
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Jordan Poole kills the Nuggets! At 104-102 in the last minute of play, after three baskets almost in quick succession from Stephen Curry, it was Jordan Poole who was quick to penalize the Nuggets. With the defense huddled on the Warriors point guard, Jordan Poole had full latitude to return a first 3-pointer at 45°, before putting the cover back in the corner, to seal the victory for his team. It was simply on a 13-0 that the Warriors finished the match, scathing!
– A still very lonely Jokic… If Monte Morris was having a good night with 19 points, Nikola Jokic (23 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) must have still felt very alone at the top of the Rockies. His second knives will have done a good job in the first half, when the Nuggets led the dance, but from the Curry festival in the 3rd quarter, Jokic and his team stalled. The proof ? Even Jokic could only score 4 points at 2/7 on shots in the last quarter…
– Stephen Curry passes the 20,000 mark. Author of 24 of his 34 points in the second half, including 18 in the 3rd quarter alone, Stephen Curry not only regained his standards after a small game during his last outing, but above all he allowed his team to take revenge. Nuggets. Even better, he put his name even more in the history books by passing the symbolic milestone of 20,000 career points, becoming the 49th player in League history to reach these peaks.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen Curry. In a game without facing the Clippers this week, Stephen Curry was keen to show another face last night against Denver. And the least we can say is that the “Baby-faced Assassin” has made the powder speak. With 34 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, Chef Curry martyred the Nuggets defense.
✅ Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors rookie continues to raise his rating at the end of the season. Like Poole, he is increasingly used off the bench and he amply justifies this confidence. After his game with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to explode the Clippers, the former G-League was still very good at 18 points and 2 rebounds, including a huge dunk above DeMarcus Cousins.
✅ Jordan Poole. After having struggled following the return to the rotation of Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole is indeed back. The Dubs substitute fullback is in great shape since he simply averages 24 points and 5 assists over his last five outings, all at 61% shooting success including a superb 59% from 3-pointers. Last night, he scored 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, 8/13 on shots including 4/7 from behind the arc… and two shots in a row to kill the game in the last minute! He is at +43 in his last two games, a real luxury joker.
⛔ Aaron Gordon. 5 is Aaron Gordon’s 3-point percentage for the month of March… Author of a double-double at 10 points and 11 rebounds last night, the strong winger of the Nuggets is misnamed at the moment with minimal outings, and above all very ineffective in shooting. Blocked at 2/11 against Golden State.
⛔ austin rivers. Rather good in the last victory of the Nuggets against the Warriors in a catch-up match, with 15 points and 4 assists, Austin Rivers was invited to the five major Denver last night, thanks to the injury of Will Barton. But the veteran fullback did not manage to get out of his box this time, stuck at 2 very small points at 1/7 on shots including 0/4 at 3-points…
THE FOLLOWING
Denver (40-27) : reception of the Raptors on the night of Saturday to Sunday.
Golden State (45-22) : return home for the reception of the Bucks on the night of Saturday to Sunday.
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