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Warriors vs Nuggets: A chance for Denver to prove who runs the West
The Denver Nuggets will host the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day at the Ball Arena. These two teams have faced each other in the playoffs a couple of times in recent years, with the Warriors winning those matchups. Meanwhile, the Nuggets won the chip, and this is a chance for them to prove it is time for their dynasty.
Are the Warriors a legit contender?
We are used to seeing the Golden State Warriors have a slow start to the regular season, and that is the case this time as well. They are 10th in the Western Conference with a 15-14 record and are going into this game as the winners of the last five. The Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 126-106 in the last game, with Klay Thompson scoring 28 points. The Warriors lead the league with 47.7 rebounds per game and are ninth in the league with 117.2 points per game.
Can the Nuggets repeat?
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a championship season, the first in franchise history. Currently, they are second in the Western Conference with a 21-10 record. They are also on a winning streak and are coming off a 102-95 win over the Charlotte Hornets, their fourth in a row. Nikola Jokic is still unstoppable, and as long as he plays on that level, the Nuggets are the main favorites to repeat. The Serbian is averaging 26.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game.
Betting Trends
The Nuggets have won 7 of the last 8 games and 22 of the last 25 home games. The Warriors are only 4-6 on the road this season and 2-8 as road underdogs.
What’s going on with Draymond Green?
Draymond Green was ejected from the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 13 and has not played ever since. The league did not come out with a specific suspension, but he will most likely be out by the end of the month.
Injury Reports
Gary Payton II is out for the Warriors and Vlatko Cancar for the Nuggets.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Warriors are on their longest winning streak of five games this season, but winning in the Mile-High City is always challenging for any team. The Nuggets have lost only twice this season at home and are ready to continue their dominance against the Warriors. Steph Curry is playing well lately, going over 30 points in two of the last three games. The Warriors will need more than one player to score big in this game to stand a chance against the Nuggets, but that will most likely not be the case. Without Draymond Green, the Warriors cannot even try to defend Jokic, and the Nuggets will win the game.
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