DENVER _ The Warriors' plane didn't leave Oakland, Calif., until around midnight. They picked up an hour in the air. They didn't arrive at their Denver hotel until 3:30 a.m. on Thursday. Less than 16 hours later, in the altitude, they had a game.
For years, the rested Nuggets feasted in these situations, pouncing on better teams for random one-off wins in their familiar element. So Thursday night was an undercover, early-season test. And the Warriors passed, 125-101, in a more-impressive-than-it-may-seem blowout of the young Nuggets on the rough end of a back-to-back.
Before the game, there were questions whether Stephen Curry would even play. He had a minor ankle tweak the night before against the Mavericks. But he tested it pregame and got the go ahead. Curry showed no ill effects.
During a dominant first quarter, Curry dropped in three 3s, continuing his torrent week following that streak-breaking 0-of-10 night in Los Angeles last Friday. The blowout was on. Curry hit four more 3s over the next two quarters _ including an outrageous between-the-legs and-1 highlight fling _ finishing 7-of-13 from deep and with a team-high 33 points. Overall, the past three games, Curry is 27-of-34 on 3s.
He was the star. But Golden State got contributions up and down the roster, including from an unlikely source. For the first time this season, Steve Kerr gave JaVale McGee rotation minutes, tossing him in the game as a surprise in the first quarter.
McGee had an immediate transition layup, a post-up dunk and two free throws, helping spark an 11-0 run that allowed the Warriors to take over the game. On this night, against a big and young Nuggets team, Golden State needed a little size and energy boost. McGee gave them both, finishing with 10 points and two blocks.
