Warriors travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Thursday on the second night of a back-to-back.
Warriors at NuggetsThursday, November 106:00 p.m.Pepsi Center
TV: CSN
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Mobile App
BACK TO BACK
It’s a quick turnaround for Golden State, as the Warriors will travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Thursday on the second night of a back-to-back sequence. This will be the first of three matchups between the two teams this season, after Golden State prevailed in three of their four meetings a year ago. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Watch the action on CSN, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game or the Warriors Mobile App.
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
GSW
6-2
T-2nd in West
113.3 PPG (1st)
42.0 RPG (23rd)
30.0 APG (1st)
DEN
3-4
11th in West
105.7 PPG (12th)
49.0 RPG (1st)
19.3 APG (26th)
PROJECTED STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
DEN: Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Damian Jones (right pectoral surgery) is out. Team Notes
DAL: Darrell Arthur (left knee surgery) and Gary Harris (right groin strain) are probable. Wilson Chandler (left hamstring) is questionable. Will Barton (left ankle) is out. Team Notes
PASSING THEM BY
Golden State scores more points per game than any other team in the league, and their passing proficiency is a big reason why. The Warriors have led the NBA in assists per game in each of the last two seasons, and have continued that trend into the 2016-17 campaign, where they lead the league with an average of 29.6 helpers per game. So far this season, 27 has been the magic number for the Dubs, as they’re undefeated when compiling at least 27 assists, and winless when failing to do so. The Nuggets allow the fifth-most assists against per game in the NBA, so if Golden State is able to spread the ball around and create good looks, it could be a long night for Denver.
TEAM LEADERS
GSW
PTS: Durant (28.8)
REB: Green (10.6)
AST: Green (6.9)
DEN
PTS: Barton (18.0)
REB: Nurkic (9.4)
AST: Nelson (4.0)
DENVER SCOUTING REPORT
It’s likely to come down to the wire for the final playoff spots in the West, and the feisty Nuggets figure to be a part of the commotion. Denver is coming off a season in which they finished with a 33-49 record (tied for 10th in the West), and currently sit at 3-4 on the new year, despite playing all but one of their first seven games on the road. Consistency has been a problem for the Nuggets, who have alternated wins and losses in each of their last five contests, and are coming off a slim 108-107 defeat at the hands of the Grizzlies. Both Denver and Golden State currently rank among the top-six fastest teams in the league in terms of pace, so expect an up-and-down game in which transition baskets may prove to be the difference.