Buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-Basketball returns to Peacock Monday night for a Western Conference clash between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena, with tip-off at 10 p.m. ET.
The Warriors (0–3, 14th West) are still searching for their first dub of the season following Saturday’s 131–122 road loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets (1–1, 7th West) notched their first win on Saturday, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 141–135 in overtime at home.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Golden State Warriors
- PROBABLE | Charles Bassey (Knee), Brandon Williams (Back)
- QUESTIONABLE | Gui Santos (Knee)
- OUT | Jimmy Butler III (ACL), Moses Moody (Knee), Kristaps Porzingis (Not With Team)
Denver Nuggets
- DOUBTFUL | Cameron Johnson (Ankle)
- OUT | Spencer Jones (Hamstring), Julian Strawther (Knee), Alpha Diallo (Wrist)
Looking at the odds, the Nuggets are 7.5-point home favorites with -270 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Warriors are +220 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 236.5 points.
Warriors vs. Nuggets Game Preview
Golden State Warriors
If the Warriors’ championship window with Stephen Curry wasn’t closed before this season, it seems to have been boarded shut one week in. Golden State — missing Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, and Kristaps Porzingis — has dropped its first three games of the season, ranking 29th league-wide in defensive rating (122.2) and 26th in net rating (-12).
The team’s young core has sparked early optimism. Eleventh overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg is coming off his best performance so far, erupting for 26 points on six threes with nine rebounds and five assists in Curry’s absence on Saturday in Phoenix. Brandin Podziemski will also rejoin the lineup on Monday after scoring 18 points in 33 minutes on Friday against the Grizzlies. Still, the defense remains a serious problem — even with Curry back on Monday, this team seems a ways away from playing competitive basketball.
Denver Nuggets
Speaking of teams that have disappointed early, the Nuggets don’t seem to be in great shape either. They opened the season with a double-digit loss in Oklahoma City before having to rally from 23 points down to beat the lowly New Orleans Pelicans in overtime at home.
Denver has looked sharp defensively but is asking a lot from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on the other end, ranking 24th in offensive rating (106.1). That said, the team’s heavy reliance on the superstar tandem proved effective against New Orleans. Jokic had a 35-point triple-double, while Murray went off for 42 points on eight treys with six assists in the comeback victory.
Warriors vs. Nuggets Pick, Best Bet
Neither the Warriors nor the Nuggets arrive for Monday’s matchup with much optimism about their respective seasons. However, the latter seems poised to take care of business at home. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are coming off a phenomenal combined effort against the Pelicans, and they should carry that momentum into a game against one of the league’s weakest defenses. Even with Stephen Curry leading the charge, Golden State likely won’t have the firepower to keep up.
