Nuggets at Home in Golden State
Coach George Karl was surely in their thoughts as the Nuggets buried the Warriors on Thursday night
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Maintaining ambitions with a team in Denver, fans, players & coaches have reached a crossroads.
A successful, healthy Nuggets team is reaching to tag the Lakers in the West, and at the same time being closely shadowed by their divisional rivals. Denver must not only focus on the fate of the season ahead, but support a coach and his family who were struck with health issues of their own. Coach Dantley filled-in for Coach George Karl as he was absent for tonight’s game in Oakland against the Warriors to receive treatment for cancer.
Coming off a stupendous victory against Boston at the Pepsi Center on Sunday, Denver met the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland tonight. I want to say Denver was expected to route the Warriors and sweep the team 4-0 on the season. However, with the Nuggets’ erratic play on the road against weaker opponents, well, nothing is guaranteed.
Although Denver controlled the game well into the 3rd quarter, Golden State began pushing the ball and forcing its tempo on the laxing Nuggets squad. By the fourth quarter Denver found themselves in a shootout with Stephen Curry (30 points) and the rest of the young Warriors. Chauncey Billups (37 points) was able to stop n’ pop a couple threes to quiet the enthusiastic crowd, and J.R. Smith (25 points) followed up to find the target from down-range with a few threes of his own (7-13 beyond the arch).
Golden State at one point trailed by 19 points, but were able to sprint back late in the 3rd and early 4th quarters to pull within 4 points of Denver. Fortunately, Melo piled on his 27 points to help lift Denver over the energetic Golden State Warriors 127-112.
*Injury Note: Kenyon Martin bumped knees with another player before heading to the locker room at half time and eventually being sidelined the rest of the game.
With 25 games remaining in the regular season, the expectation that Denver makes the playoffs is a near lock. However, the Nuggets’ unsteady play on the road has Denver leaning just out of reach as they hold off the rival Utah Jazz by a half game.
Last 3 Games
@ Washinton (Loss 97-107)
Boston (Win 114-105)
@ Golden State (Win 127-112)
Next 3 Games:
Friday, Detroit
Sunday, @ L.A. Lakers
Monday, @ Phoenix
