DENVER – Without their superstar engine, Steph Curry, sidelined by illness back in the Bay Area, the Golden State Warriors were left grasping at straws against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. What they needed was a symphony of precision: clutch shots from Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, relentless defense from Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green, and seamless ball movement from the entire squad.
Instead, they delivered a cacophony of chaos. The Nuggets dismantled the Curry-less Warriors 129-104 at Ball Arena in their Emirates Cup group stage opener, turning what could have been a gritty battle into a one-sided rout.
From the jump, Denver’s offense hummed like a well-oiled machine, scorching the nets at 55.8% from the field and draining 12 of 20 threes in the first half alone to build a commanding 66-49 lead. The Warriors, meanwhile, coughed up turnovers like they were contagious – a fitting metaphor given Curry’s absence – and looked utterly outclassed on both ends.
Late in the second quarter, during a blistering Nuggets surge, Warriors coach Steve Kerr could only sit frozen on the bench, his face etched with pure disgust as he stared into the abyss of his team’s unraveling performance. The second half offered no redemption; it was more of the same demoralizing drudgery.
Golden State’s young guns – Podziemski, Kuminga, and Moody – misfired spectacularly, combining for a measly two points on 1-of-12 shooting in the first half, sprinkled with three turnovers for good measure. By night’s end, they limped to a collective 10-of-29 from the field, a far cry from the promise they’ve shown earlier in the season.
Jimmy Butler paced the Warriors with 19 points, while Draymond Green flashed his veteran savvy, knocking down five threes en route to 17 points. But on the other side, Nikola Jokic was a walking triple-double threat, dropping 26 points on an efficient 12-of-15 shooting, adding nine assists and nine rebounds before chilling on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
Local hero Aaron Gordon, the Archbishop Mitty alum and San Jose native, feasted with 18 points, bullying Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the post. His highlight-reel moment? A savage poster dunk in the third quarter after triple-crossing Hield into oblivion, evoking flashbacks to his dominant days in the West Catholic Athletic League.
The loss drops the Warriors to 5-5, their fourth defeat in five games, as they limp homeward seeking solace.
Losing the Non-Jokic Minutes: A Critical Collapse
To even sniff victory against Denver, the Warriors had to dominate the stretches without Jokic on the floor. Early in the second quarter, they showed flickers of life, ripping off a 10-0 run to trim the deficit to 32-31.
But hope fizzled fast. With the three-time MVP still resting, the Nuggets ignited from beyond the arc – Jamal Murray and backup big Jonas Valanciunas each splashed two triples – fueling a devastating 19-3 run. Jokic and Gordon didn’t even re-enter until the four-minute mark, but by then, Denver’s momentum was unbreakable, their refreshed stars sealing the deal.
Curry Update: Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Curry’s absence stemmed from a nagging illness that had him hacking and sneezing in his last public outing, forcing him to miss the last two games. But there’s optimism brewing.
Before tip-off, Kerr shared that he’d texted with his franchise cornerstone, noting Curry’s symptoms were easing. The coach pegged him as questionable for Sunday’s home clash with the Indiana Pacers – a potential return that could inject some much-needed star power back into the lineup.
Will Richard Shines Amid the Gloom
In a night shrouded in disappointment, rookie Will Richard emerged as a rare beacon. Fresh off a 30-point explosion in Sacramento – the second-highest scoring debut start by a Warriors rookie ever – the second-rounder entered midway through the second quarter.
Undeterred by the blowout, Richard’s energy was electric: slicing for two layups and swishing a three to rack up seven quick points in the period. He closed with 12 points, joined by bench sparks Quinten Post (14 points) and Pat Spencer (10 points, four assists), offering slim silver linings in an otherwise stormy performance.
Upcoming Schedule: No Time to Lick Wounds
The Warriors’ brief Bay Area pit stop won’t last. After hosting Indiana on Sunday to try snapping their two-game skid, they embark on a grueling six-game road swing starting Tuesday.
The gauntlet kicks off in Oklahoma City, features a Texas two-step with back-to-back games in San Antonio, dips into New Orleans, and wraps with a Florida finale – Orlando followed by Miami. It’s a make-or-break stretch that could define their early-season trajectory, especially if Curry’s return sparks a revival.