Okay, so the Warriors were without Klay Thompson, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia, and David West. We’re also close the All-Star break and teams can taste their upcoming vacations. That said, the Nuggets only had nine players and could have easily chalked this up as a loss before the game even started. But the Nuggets found a way to make it work. For a team that is fighting for a playoff spot, they got their best win of the season.
NBA scores 2017: Nuggets blow out Warriors in historic shooting night
The Nuggets and Warriors switched roles for an evening.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Roles were reversed on Monday as the Nuggets hit 24 three-pointers during the game, tying a league record, and beat the Warriors, 132-110. The Nuggets were up by 25 points at halftime thanks to 16 three-pointers, shooting 70 percent from behind the arc. Other than a run late in the game by the Warriors’ bench, Denver was in control the entire time.
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 17 points, 21 rebounds, and 12 assists. It was his second triple-double of his career and also his second in the last 10 days. Jokic also set career highs in rebounds and assists. His thoughts on that?
You know who else was a star for the Nuggets? Rookie Juancho Hernangomez. Hernangomez finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, which were both career highs.
Three-pointers weren’t the only thing going for the Nuggets. They out rebounded the Warriors, 52-27, as well.
As for the Warriors? The Nuggets actually stole all of Stephen Curry’s powers as he shot an abysmal 1-of-11 from deep.
If the playoffs started today, the Warriors would be the one seed and the Nuggets would be the eight seed. You can’t take too much from this matchup but it’s one we could possibly see again. The Warriors are now 46-9. So ... technically 73-9 is still in play but it looks like we won’t have another record season like last year.
It’s fair to say that the Warriors-Thunder matchup on Saturday night took a lot out of everyone involved. The Thunder lost 120-98 to the Wizards and Russell Westbrook was a -36. Tough follow up for both teams. Stephen Curry agreed.
The Nuggets also received Mason Plumlee Sunday in a trade, sending Jusuf Nurkic to the Blazers. An interesting trade as both teams are fighting for the eight seed in the Western Conference.
The once surging Jazz have now lost three in a row
The Jazz got two big wins against the Hawks and the Pelicans and now have lost three in a row to the Mavericks, Celtics, and Clippers. It’s been an up and down season for the Jazz and they continue to fight through injuries. Every time they seem to find their identity, the take two steps back. Luckily, the All-Star break is soon. Teams need it.
Assist of the night
Dunk contest preview
Look at Derrick Jones of the Phoenix Suns. He does this with such ease. Saturday night should be a real treat.
Scores
Spurs 110, Pacers 106 (Pounding the Rock recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
Magic 116, Heat 107 (Orlando Pinstriped Post recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap)
Wizards 120, Thunder 98 (Bullets Forever recap | Welcome to Loud City recap)
76ers 105, Hornets 99 (Liberty Ballers recap | At the Hive recap)
Nuggets 132, Warriors 110 (Denver Stiffs recap | Golden State of Mind recap)
Clippers 88, Jazz 72 (Clips Nation recap | SLC Dunk recap)
Celtics 111, Mavericks 98 (Celtics Blog recap | Mavs Moneyball recap)
Bucks 102, Pistons 89 (Brew Hoop recap | Detroit Bad Boys recap)
Grizzlies 112, Nets 103 (Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Nets Daily recap)
Pelicans 110, Suns 108 (The Bird Writes recap | Bright Side of the Sun recap)
Hawks 109, Trail Blazers 104 (Peachtree Hoops recap | Blazers Edge recap)
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