Why Nuggets lost Game 1 to Warriors – The Athletic

Late in the second quarter, as the Warriors’ perpetual motion machine picked up steam, the Nuggets faltered. They could no longer hold back the onslaught that was coming their way. They had kept Steph Curry in check, at least for the moment. They had kept Jordan Poole in check. They had withstood Klay Thompson’s early shooting streak. And Draymond Green’s playmaking and defense hadn’t worn them down yet.

But here, as the first half came to an end, it became too much. Golden State unleashed its newest lineup, de la Mort – the four who were joined by Andrew Wiggins – and the Nuggets couldn’t stand it. Suddenly, a three-point game stretched to 11 in just 1:57. There was still a half to play, but then the night effectively ended for the Nuggets in Game 1 of the playoffs.

They lost to the Warriors 123-107 on Saturday night in San Francisco, a disappointing experience to open the franchise’s fourth straight playoff appearance. From there, things would only get worse for Denver. The Nuggets’ deficit widened to 24 in the fourth quarter, and the bottom line was just window dressing on a dismal night.

Denver couldn’t match the Warriors’ momentum or talent pool.