DENVER – The Warriors didn't have their heart and soul in Draymond Green, but Jonathan Kuminga gave his all.
Kuminga threw down an early dunk, had his best passing game of the season, led rushing attacks and competed defensively.
The young Warrior, who had a rocky begin to the season in various ways, scored 19 points in a powerful all-around game.
But when push got here to shove, the Joker got the last laugh.
Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, made every play across the board, erasing the Warriors' eight-point deficit and ending the sport with 38 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals. With 34 seconds left, he blocked Kuminga's attempt on the rim after which fought his strategy to the road to hit the game-winning foul throw.
Steph Curry, the Warriors' MVP counterpart, scored 24 points on 8-for-23 shooting. When the Nuggets closed the sport with an 11-0 run, Curry couldn't find a solution.
Despite Kuminga's efforts, the Warriors (12-8) fell 119-115, their fifth straight loss. With the ultimate night of the NBA Cup group stage happening on Tuesday, the Warriors face an away game within the knockout round – likely in Houston.
Before the sport, Nuggets coach Michael Malone reminded his team that the Warriors, who had lost 4 straight, would come out hungry. He was right; Golden State had an early snack.
Kuminga, back within the starting lineup because Draymond Green (calf) was unavailable, scored nine points in his first eight minutes.
In order to maintain either Curry or Brandin Podziemski – or each – on the court in any respect times, Steve Kerr replaced Curry first after five minutes.
Although Kerr's intended rotation changes could have to attend for Green's return, he has reduced his roster to 10 players.
Curry hit a finger throw from Russell Westbrook before the horn in the primary quarter, making the rating 33-31. He added 4 assists in the primary frame, which featured Denver's hot 5-for-9 3-point shooting – including three from Aaron Gordon and one other from Westbrook.
Without Green, the Warriors took different looks at Nikola Jokic to make him a passer. On one play, they sent Andrew Wiggins into the block to double team, and weak-side defender Buddy Hield expected his cross-court pass as a steal.
Golden State opened the second quarter with a 23-9 run, turning defensive stops into fast breaks. Their ball movement was beautiful, with Kuminga getting two attractiveness on one possession and showing patience as Curry moved to the corner before hitting it for a three-pointer. The Warriors assisted on 18 of their first 20 balls.
But then the Nuggets — who had been struggling defensively these days — began to overwhelm the Warriors, resulting in a 15-3 Denver run.
More vital than suppressing the unstoppable Jokic was that the Warriors dominated while the three-time MVP sat. By winning those minutes by 11, the Warriors got here out of the halftime break tied.
The Warriors played with the vigor and energy that Kerr had been in search of during the last two weeks. Podziemski dove up the court for a loose ball, sparking a fast counterattack that led to a straightforward layup from Kuminga.
Although Jokic, who averages 38 minutes per game, played your complete third quarter, the Warriors kept the sport close. Looney played it hard within the post and Moses Moody provided a pleasant shot off the bench at the tip of the quarter, finding a cutting Gary Payton II for an assist and negating a baseline fadeaway.
But without Green and with the turnover bug coming for Curry, Golden State had trouble guarding the 3-point line. A 33-point third for Denver propelled the Nuggets into the fourth round at 90-85.
Denver opened the fourth with Jokic sitting, giving the Warriors a likelihood to make a run. Like clockwork, Golden State outscored Denver 10-2 in three minutes, a blitz punctuated by a transition slam between Trayce Jackson and Davis.
When Jokic returned, the Warriors led 95-92. Three points from Curry and Payton made it a lead of seven with 7:50 left, and a three-pointer from Moody made it 104-94 when Curry went to the bench for his scheduled break.
Kerr has talked about not wanting to chase wins and wanting to maintain the larger picture in mind while managing his 36-year-old star's minutes, and on Tuesday he didn't push the boundaries. Eight points for Moody within the fourth quarter helped them survive while Curry sat.
On his return, Curry found Kuminga for a dunk, then Kuminga nearly charged Jokic. Instead, the replay turned the try right into a 1, cutting Golden State's result in five with 4:22 remaining.
From then on, it was backwards and forwards between Curry and Jokic – five MVP awards between them. Jokic found Gordon for a dunk and hit a baby hook. Curry drilled a fading mid-range shot. When Looney exited with 1:48 left, the Warriors led 115-111, their ninth final loss within the last 10 contests.
Jokic tied the sport with a jumper over Curry, who was waiting for a changeup as the middle picked up his dribble. He then iced the sport with two free throws and keeled over along with his hands on his knees after a 40-minute night. In a four-point win, the Nuggets won Jokic's minutes by 23.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com