OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Golden State Warriors finished with a 116-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors (53-24) cemented a two-game lead over the Nuggets (51-26) for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with five regular-season contests left as well as the tie breaker after winning three out of four regular-season matchups. Officially, the Warriors have not clinched yet. Unofficially, they have.
In order for the Warriors to fall to No. 2, two scenarios would have to happen. The Nuggets would have to win all of their five remaining games. The Warriors would also have to lose three of their final five contests.
That only happened once this season when Stephen Curry sat out with a groin injury and Kevin Durant and Draymond Green were arguing. And now, DeMarcus Cousins (season-high 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists), Durant (21), Curry (17), Klay Thompson (13) and Green (six points, nine rebounds, nine assists) are all almost showing the best versions of themselves.
