SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors suffered their worst loss of the Jimmy Butler Era.
Against the Nuggets team without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, Golden State never got into gear.
The Warriors turned it over 10 times in the first half and missed 12 of their first 13 3-pointers, falling behind by as much as 15. Even when Butler tried to put the Warriors on his back in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets showed resilience.
By getting trap-gamed, the Warriors (39-29) missed a golden opportunity to pull within 2.5 games of the Nuggets in the Western conference standings. Steph Curry shot 6-for-21 and committed seven turnovers as Archbishop Mitty alum Aaron Gordon led Denver with a game-high 38 points in the Nuggets’ 114-105 win.
The Warriors missed 12 foul shots in the nine-point loss and shot 8-for-33 (24%) from behind the arc. The upped the intensity out of desperation in the fourth quarter, but never pulled ahead. Russell Westbrook dished 10 dimes in the first half and 16 overall in a triple-double, organizing the Nuggets without their three-time MVP.
With the 6-foot-8 Gordon operating as Denver’s center, rookie Quinten Post got played off the court. The Warriors had centered their game plan around stopping Jokic, but had to scrap that pregame when Denver ruled him out. The Nuggets spaced out the Warriors and capitalized on their turnovers.
Even after the Warriors recorded blocks or forced turnovers, they often gave the ball right back to Denver. Curry and Green forced multiple hit-ahead passes that got intercepted.
The Nuggets had answers any time the Warriors threatened to make a run. Gordon nailed a fadeaway 3-pointer in the corner and Westbrook added five quick points to keep the Nuggets’ lead in double figures late in the third quarter.
Denver’s confidence only grew. They solved the Warriors’ brief displays of zone defense and were unbothered by Gary Payton II’s inclusion in the lineup to start the second half.
An emphatic Butler rejection into the first row got the Chase Center crowd on its feet, then his reverse layup in traffic moments later had them roaring. But Buddy Hield missed a wide open 3 above the break that would’ve pulled the Warriors within six, making them 5-for-24 from deep.
Sensing the moment, Butler tried to take over in his own way. He dug out an offensive rebound under the basket before diving on the floor to save it from going out of bounds. Then he bullied his way to the foul line right after, hunching over with his hands on his knees in exhaustion.
But Butler, a career 83% foul shooter, missed both and four on the night. It wasn’t the Warriors’ night.
Related Articles
Injuries cost Warriors a blockbuster matchup but open path for major standings rise
Kurtenbach: Three stats that explain how Jimmy Butler saved the Warriors
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder won’t win the NBA championship
Steve Kerr passes Al Attles for most wins in Warriors franchise history
Warriors continue to surge, earn rock-fight victory over Knicks
Butler added a 3 and added two foul shots to inch Golden State within eight. The Warriors went with their five best athletes on the court — Butler, Payton, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green — as Curry took his regular rest to start the fourth.
Green added a tough and-1 and a coast-to-coast slam to force a Denver timeout with 7:19. Kuminga (13 points, four assists, four rebounds) forced back-to-back turnovers while guarding Westbrook, continuing the tide-turn and pulling within three.
But like they did all game, the Nuggets pulled out responses. Westbrook hit a 3-pointer to return Denver’s lead to 10 and give him a triple-double. Then Curry missed two of his 10 3s in the final three minutes and turned it over for a seventh time on an ill-advised lob attempt.
The Warriors are now 14-2 with Butler in the lineup and have to play Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back after a tough defeat.
