The Golden State Warriors are about to advance to the conference finals. The Dubs prevailed in the game against the Denver Nuggets with 118:113 and therefore only need one hit to advance. Even an MVP Nikola Jokic gala wasn’t enough for Denver.
Denver Nuggets (6) – Golden State Warriors (3) 113:118 (BOXSCORE), Series: 0-3
Jokic had 37 points (14/22 FG, 2/3 of three), 18 rebounds and 5 assists in 38 minutes, but that wasn’t enough as the Golden States Offense was once again unstoppable. The Dubs hit 55 percent of field and sank 45 percent of their three points (18/40). The guard trio of Stephen Curry (27, 9/17 FG, 3/9 3 points), Klay Thompson (26, 10/18 FG, 6/13 3 points) and Jordan Poole (27, 9/13 FG, 3 points) /5 triplets).
Draymond Green (6, 10 assists) worked with Jokic throughout the season, though not always successfully. In the end, however, the striker got the decisive steal against the Serbs. Gary Payton II (11, 4/4) and Otto Porter Jr. (6) also did well. Aaron Gordon (18, 12 rebounds) helped Denver, while guards around Monte Morris (10, 4/11) and Will Barton (13, 5/13) weakened again.
With the Nuggets’ spirit of desperation, it was obvious to Denver that this was a must-play game for the hosts. The Warriors countered with a lot of threes. Jokic was offensively aggressive and finally scored again from the center of town and yet the voice actors led for most of the first half.
Denver simply didn’t have the means in defense, in the second quarter the visitors hit 13 of their 17 shots, seven of them from distance. Curry, who came off the bench again, had 15 points, and Payton II (!) and Poole also had three triples each. The Nuggets were still well served at halftime with a 10-point deficit and blew up to catch up after the switch.
Draymond Green’s robbery against Jokic decides the game
The Warriors cooled down and made small turnovers, most notably Green, who also sprained his ankle but remained in the game. At times, the Nuggets even took the lead again, but Curry and Thompson counterattacked. However, the section went 30:18 for the Nuggets, who again struggled with the Warriors’ small ball.
Above all, André Iguodala was the standout here, the 38-year-old, then, landed a dunk near the free-throw line. Speaking of the free throw line: Denver was quick on the bonus in the final section, and the Warriors then kept the nuggets in the game with unnecessary fouls (DEN: 12/12 FT in the fourth quarter). Jokic took over again, who managed to trick Green a few times and brought the Nuggets back to the front with a beautiful play three minutes from time.
However, it would be the hosts’ last points for a long time, as Andrew Wiggins hit three corners, Poole hit a circus layer and Curry laid a layup on Jokic. The Serbian temporarily no longer saw the ball when he caught it, Green stole his ball. It was the preliminary decision, even though Poole and Curry showed unusual weaknesses on the free-throw line.
Warriors vs. Nuggets: The series at a glance
| Match | date | Time | home | far away | result |
| 1 | april 17 | 2:30 am | Warriors of the Golden State | Denver Nuggets | 123:107 |
| two | April 19th | 4 hours | Warriors of the Golden State | Denver Nuggets | 126:106 |
| 3 | April 22nd | 4 hours | Denver Nuggets | Warriors of the Golden State | 113:118 |
| 4 | April 24th | 9.30 pm | Denver Nuggets | Warriors of the Golden State | – |
| 5* | april 28 | to be defined | Warriors of the Golden State | Denver Nuggets | – |
| 6* | April 30th | to be defined | Denver Nuggets | Warriors of the Golden State | – |
| 7* | 1st May | to be defined | Warriors of the Golden State | Denver Nuggets | – |
*if necessary