The short-handed Warriors fell 114-103 to the Nuggets in Denver on Friday night.
GAME LEADERS
The Warriors’ winning streak came to an end Friday night as the Dubs fell to the Nuggets 114-103 in Denver. Playing without Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bogut and Marreese Speights, the shorthanded Warriors kept it close all game long, but fell short in the final minutes. Justin Holiday led the Warriors with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while James Michael McAdoo recorded 16 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The reserves did not find their rhythm easily, as the Nuggets opened the game on a 13-3 run within the first four minutes. The first quarter ended with the Warriors trailing the Nuggets 34-26, as the Dubs shot 40 percent from the field to Denver’s 51.9 percent. James Michael McAdoo, playing in only his second NBA game, made an important impact on both ends of the floor, as he scored a quick seven points in his first four minutes and cut the deficit to 36-31 with 10:30 left in the first half. Justin Holiday, in his first career NBA start, splashed two consecutive shots from behind the arc to get the Warriors within three points, trailing 48-45 with 4:24 left in the first half. Despite the Warriors' consistent effort on both ends of the floor, the teams traded buckets for the remainder of the second quarter and the Nuggets pulled ahead yet again, ending the half 62-54.