When you don’t have Stephen Curry in the lineup and Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green combine to go 2/19 on three-point shots, it’s hard to win an NBA game.
The Warriors struggled to shoot on Saturday night, and it led to their lowest offensive output of the season, losing to the Denver Nuggets 96-81.
Kevin Durant scored 18 Points on 6/17 shooting, a very inefficient night for Durant, who has been very reliable during the winning streak. Durant missed all five of his three point attempts and struggled to find a rhythm all night long.
Klay Thompson added 15 Points on 6/21 shooting and 1/10 from three point land, continuing his streak of consecutive games with a three pointer made. Draymond Green added 10 Points, 6 Assists, and 5 Rebounds in his second game back from a shoulder injury. Green took a hard elbow to the face from Nikola Jokic in the middle of the fourth quarter, but ended up returning to the game.
For the Nuggets, Gary Harris led the way with 19 Points on 6/14 shooting, while Nikola Jokic added 18 Points and 9 Rebounds. Five Nuggets players ended up in double figures for scoring in a balanced offensive effort from Denver.
The Warriors were sloppy with the ball, turning it over 17 times, and lacked a flow in their offense. They consistently looked beat on most plays and seemed behind the 8-ball, energy-wise, the entire night. Following last night’s tough win over the LA Lakers, the Warriors were due for a clunker, and delivered against the Nuggets.
The Nuggets had lost five straight games at ORACLE Arena prior to tonight’s win, with their last win dating back to April 2014.
The Warriors won’t need any motivation moving past this game, as their main rival, the Cleveland Cavaliers, come to town for a Christmas Day showdown. The Warriors will almost certainly be without star PG Stephen Curry, as he continues to work his way back from a sprained ankle he suffered two weeks ago. Curry has been seen working out pregame on Friday and Saturday, and looks like he is nearing a return to the hardwood. After tonight’s loss, the Warriors move to 26-7.
