With Nikola Jokic on the bench due to injury, the Golden State Warriors quickly took command over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Sunday afternoon in another pivotal game with playoff implications during the final stretch of the regular season.
After jumping out to a lead that grew as big as 15 points in the second quarter, the Warriors’ road struggles began to show in Denver. Without their MVP candidate in the frontcourt, the Nuggets began to storm back and take control. Before the halftime buzzer, the Warriors clung to only a three-point advantage.
With momentum heading into the second half, the Nuggets took control as the Warriors’ shooting went ice cold. In the second half, Golden State shot 32.1% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc.
Despite their icy offense, the Warriors had one final late rally in them in Denver. With under three minutes remaining, the Nuggets led by 11 points. However, the Golden State produced a late 9-0 run to cut Denver’s lead down to two points with 20 seconds remaining. Yet, Klay Thompson came up short with consecutive chances to take the lead or tie the game in the final seconds.
After getting an offensive rebound on a miss from deep, Jamal Murray blocked Thompson’s second attempt to steal the game, securing Denver’s win and handing Golden State another heartbreaking road loss, 112-110.
Thompson led the way for the Warriors, scoring 25 points on 9-of-28 shooting from the field with five made 3-pointers in 39 minutes. Steph Curry’s uncharacteristically struggled with his jumper, scoring 21 points on 8-of-28 from the field and 2-of-14 from the 3-point line.
Following the Warriors’ 30th road loss of the season, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Sunday evening.
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What an ending. Klay Thompson made a 3 to get within two point and then the Warriors forced a jump ball, but Thompson missed two shots that could have won or tied the game, giving the Nuggets the 112-110 win.
Golden State is 9-30 in the road and is back into the six seed.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) April 3, 2023
Warriors lose in Denver to the Nuggets without Jokic. A win would've put them in the driver's seat for #5 seed. But this loss drops them back into a tie with the Clippers. Danger below. Lakers and Pelicans both loom. All four have 38 losses heading into final week.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 3, 2023
With only three games left in the regular season, the Warriors have yet to win ten road games. The road struggles are deep…what might it mean in the playoffs? https://t.co/e9KbJXoa1R
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) April 3, 2023
Curry/Thompson have 41 points on 46 shots
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) April 3, 2023
That’s a great look for the win. It was on line, too. Klay thought that was money
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) April 3, 2023
Clippers and Lakers own the tie-breaker over Warriors by virtue of winning season series
Pelicans own tie-breaker (for now) by virtue of better conference record
LAC-LAL play in 3 daysEven if Warriors win their last 3 games, they will need help to avoid the play-in tournament
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 3, 2023
Warriors clarification:
Lakers own tie-breaker (season series).
Pelicans own tie-breaker for now (conf record)
Clippers own tie-breaker for now (better div record)Warriors CAN pass LAC by winning out and LAC losing to Lakers AND Suns
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) April 3, 2023
— No Context Warriors (@NoContext_GSW) April 3, 2023
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE IS 🔥
Just 0.5 GAMES separate the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers and Pelicans in the CRUCIAL 5-8 spots, while 5 other teams lurk just above or below them!
Full standings 📲 https://t.co/02ml5YIBRq pic.twitter.com/qf8oD27s25
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2023
Warriors season….. pic.twitter.com/nuIhvgwHVM
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) April 3, 2023
Final 📊
Klay – 25p/5r/4a/1s
Stephen – 21p/3r/4a/2b
Donte – 18p/13r/4a/2s
Jordan – 17p/2r/3a/1s
Jonathan – 9p/1r/2a/2s
Anthony – 8p/8r/1s/1b
Kevon – 6p/14r/1a/1s/1b
Draymond – 4p/9r/7a/1s
Gary – 2p/2r/1a pic.twitter.com/RPgvk7iJAy— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 3, 2023
Warriors drop to 9-30 on the road this season 😳
2 of their final 3 games are on the road… pic.twitter.com/guKMLSj2mS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 3, 2023
This game will likely be the difference between opening up in Phoenix vs. opening up in Sacramento.
How does that make you feel? https://t.co/YbrCDde74e
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) April 3, 2023
Klay with a great look on potential game winner. pic.twitter.com/CSsw43RXCB
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 3, 2023
Should be a fun 48 hours of "they aren't good enough" until we get to Tuesday and they beat OKC and then we'll get 48 hours of "we gonna be championship."
— Mark Willard (@Mark_T_Willard) April 3, 2023
Dubs lose to Denver 112-110 as they shoot 9-42 from three 21% and 33 -63 from 2, which is 52%.
— Tim Roye (@warriorsvox) April 3, 2023
🤯 WHAT A SEQUENCE TO END WARRIORS/NUGGETS 🤯
Jamal Murray's huge block seals the DEN win! pic.twitter.com/wWEKwQl5UC
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2023
Splash Bros 7-30 from 3 pt range.
Goodnight.— Mark Willard (@Mark_T_Willard) April 3, 2023
Lose by 2points in a game where Steph/Klay shoot 7/30 from 3
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 3, 2023
Really thought the Dubs were going to steal that one at the end. They've been on the opposite side of that situation like four times this year. Thought they'd finally be the thieves.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) April 3, 2023
