Golden State Warriors (3-0) vs Denver Nuggets (1-3)
Tip-Off: Thursday, October 16, 2014 – 5:00PM PDT
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
TV: Radio Only – Local Denver 104.3 fm/950 am
Livetweet: Game Updates @LetsGoWarriors on Twitter
Projected Starting Lineups:
Warriors:
PG: Stephen Curry (24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.3)
SG: Klay Thompson (18.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.1 RPG)
SF: Andre Iguodala (9.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.7 RPG)
PF: David Lee (18.3 PPG, 2.1 APG, 9.3 RPG)
C: Andrew Bogut (7.3 PPG, 1.7 APG, 10 RPG)
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
Lakers:
PG: Ty Lawson (17.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 8.8 APG)
SG: Arron Afflalo (18.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.4 APG)
SF: Danilo Gallinari (16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.5 APG)
PF: Kenneth Faried (13.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.2 APG)
C: Timofey Mozgov (9.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 0.8 APG)
Head Coach: Byron Scott
Last Time Out:
Warriors defeated Lakers 120-105 at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday
Keys to the Game:
Thursday night the Golden State Warriors travel outside of California for the first time in the preseason. Funny enough, it will also be their first recorded “home game,” as the team is set to face the Denver Nuggets in Des Moines while wearing their home whites.
It’s a return home for Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, who grew up just 35 miles from Des Moines in Ames. It will be Barnes’ first game (NCAA or NBA) in the state since he led his High School team to a second consecutive state championship.
Unlike the Warriors, the Nuggets have had a slow start thus far, going 1-3 in their first four preseason games while averaging just 97 points per game as a team.
Golden State’s offense, however, continues to be on a tear in the preseason, as they’ve averaged 116 points in three wins against the Lakers and Clippers.
The easiest way to hold the Nuggets in check is to keep them off the offensive glass. The addition of Afflalo and the return of Gallinari has improved their ability to score from the outside, but the strength of their team remains in the relentlessness of their offensive rebounders.
Faried, especially, poses a threat to earn the Nuggets second and third chances after a great performance for Team USA at the World Cup. Mozgov, JaVale McGee and J.J. Hickson are also big bodies that present constant put-back threats.
Fi the Warriors offense continues to gel the way it has through three games, the Dubs should walk away with their fourth consecutive preseason win
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