Golden State Warriors (14-0) at Denver Nuggets (6-7)
Tip-off: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 – 5:00PM PDT
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
TV: CSN Bay Area & ESPN | Radio: KTCT 1050
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive (@chiliankopp)
Projected Starting Lineups:
Warriors (PPG, RPG, APG)
PG: Stephen Curry (33.6, 5.3, 5.6)
SG: Klay Thompson (16.2, 3.8, 2.5)
SF: Harrison Barnes (14.0, 5.2, 2.0)
PF: Draymond Green (12.3, 7.9, 6.9)
C: Andrew Bogut (6.9, 7.0, 2.5)
Head Coach: Luke Walton (Steve Kerr: 81-15, .844)*
* – “Warriors’ results under Luke Walton will count on Kerr’s official coaching record.” — Warriors’ PR
Nuggets (PPG, RPG, APG)
PG: Emmanuel Mudiay (12.5, 3.9, 6.3)
SG: Gary Harris (9.7, 2.7, 1.8)
SF: Danilo Gallinari (18.0, 5.5, 2.5)
PF: Kenneth Faried (12.5, 9.1, 1.1)
PF: Darrell Arthur (3.8, 3.5, 1.1)
C: Nikola Jokic (6.9, 4.6, 0.7)
Head Coach: Michael Malone (career: 45-74, .378)
Previous Matchups
- WARRIORS: On 11/20/2015 (two nights ago) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, the Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls, 106-94. Barnes hit two clutch three-pointers late to seal the deal as the Warriors delivered the knock-out punch with “small ball”. FINAL RECAP: Barnes, Small-Ball Closes Out Chicago Bulls, Warriors (14-0) Win 106-94
- NUGGETS: On 11/20/2015 (two nights ago) at Pepsi Center, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Nuggets, 114-107. Mudiay scored 26 points in a losing cause.
- WARRIORS VS NUGGETS: On 11/6/2015, Curry tallied 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists as Golden State easily defeated Denver, 119-104. RECAP: Stephen Curry Notches 34-7-10 As Golden State Warriors Up-End Denver Nuggets, 119-104
- WARRIORS AT NUGGETS: On 3/13/2015, Kerr rested Curry, Thompson, and Andre Iguodala as the Warriors bench lost to the Nuggets. RECAP: Holiday And McAdoo Impress As Warriors Bench Loses To Denver Nuggets, 114-103
Game Notes
- Curry on possibly going 15-0: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VH-Pj-2lQY&w=560&h=315]
- Luke Walton: “We’re close enough now (NBA best start ever)” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZpxkX9q35s&w=560&h=315]
- “Warriors haven’t fielded so-called #FullSquad in DEN since 12/23/2013. 2015 = night off for Steph/Klay, 2014 = rest before playoffs except for Barnes.” — LetsGoWarriors.com
- “‘We talked about it,” Walton said. “We hadn’t talked about it at all yet, but we’re close enough now. Let’s try to go get that best start ever.’
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The league’s best-ever start of 15-0 was set by the Washington Capitols in 1948 and matched by the Houston Rockets in 1993.
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Red Auerbach’s Capitols went on to lose in the championship series to the Minneapolis Lakers, but Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets beat the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.” — Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle - “‘It’d be a huge accomplishment because obviously doing something that hasn’t been done in the history of the league is special,’ guard Stephen Curry said. ‘You never know if this opportunity will come back again. There are so many variables that go into winning this many in a row, especially at the start of the season.’
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The Warriors have destroyed the competition thus far, winning games by an average margin of 14.5 points per game. Even when the streak was in danger of ending Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Warriors erased a 23-point deficit to keep it alive.” — Diamond Leung, Bay Area News Group - “‘Our guys know that we have to show up and play if we want to win. Nothing is easy in this league and nothing is given to you. The crowd in Denver, just like everywhere we go, it’s going to be loud and they’re going to be excited that the world champs are in town, that they can be the team to stop our streak. If we don’t show up and give them the respect that you need to give the teams in this this, it can be a tough night for us.’ – Warriors interim coach Luke Walton” — Monte Poole, CSN Bay Area
- “With the Golden State Warriors visiting the Denver Nuggets on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), the obvious statistical storyline resides beyond the arc. The Warriors are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA, and the Nuggets are the second-worst at defending the 3. Nevertheless, what could the tell-tale number be in Sunday night’s showdown?
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Offensive rebounds.
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The Warriors aren’t in the top 10 in offensive rebounds or second-chance points. But they they are a top-10 team when it comes to scoring after offensive boards. Golden State get 1.3 points per offensive rebound, a number that surpasses its league-leading average of 1.14 points per possession. For most teams, offensive rebounds mean a chance at easy tip-ins or put-backs. But for the Warriors, second chances usually lead to wide-open 3-pointers for Stephen Curry, which is the most dangerous shot in the league right now.” — J.A. Adande, ESPN - “Warriors are the FIFTH team in NBA history to start a season 14-0 (best start in NBA history is 15-0)” — Warriors PR
- “Golden State leads the league in Offensive Efficiency at 111.7, Denver is 16th at 101.3…” — Tim Roye, Warriors radio broadcaster
- “Denver head coach Michael Malone isn’t sure on Kenneth Faried (ankle) availability. He’s currently getting treatment.” — Simmons
- “Mike Malone says with ESPN here for the game, the Nuggets’ situation can be compared to the Washington Generals. ‘Nobody’s here to see us.'” — Leung
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via NBAE/Getty)
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