Game Of The Week: Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets

Denver (38-20) travels to San Francisco Friday to take on Steph Currys, I mean the Golden State Warriors (29-30). The teams have split their series so far this season, with the Warriors winning their last meeting 116-107 on 4/12. 

Anybody know what Steph Curry's been up to lately? He's just been playing a little basketball. Curry is averaging 39 points per game in his last 10 games on 53.5% shooting and recently passed Bradley Beal as the NBA's leading scorer at 31.1 points per game. The Dubs have gone 6-4 during that stretch while shooting 48.4% from the field as a team.  The Warriors aren't expected to make a deep playoff run, but nobody wants to see this team tank it with Curry playing at such a historically high level. Warriors' optimists are even predicting that the Dubs make it into the playoffs through the play-in and upset their first opponent to advance to the second round. 

Let's slow all that down for a second. Golden State has some injury issues. Rookie James Wiseman is done for the season with a torn right meniscus, a blow to the team's plans to give the big man much needed NBA experience. Now they'll be without small forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, who remains in concussion protocol following a scary tumble over the scorer's table while diving for a loose ball against Boston on Saturday. Toscono-Anderson required 35 stitches for a cut on his head as a result of the tumble. OK, calling it a tumble feels like an insult. This wasn't a tumble, this was Toscano-Anderson exemplifying his trademark hustle and getting hurt for it. The 28 year old rookie, who went undrafted in 2015 and bounced around several leagues (including Warriors' G-League affiliate in Santa Cruz) before making his pro debut with the team this year, has been a solid contributor to Warriors offense this season, averaging 5.1 points per game on 2.3 assists, while being a consistent force on defense. Both players will be missed against Denver, and hopefully Toscano-Anderson recovers in time to help Golden State make that potential playoff push. 

Nikola Jocich leads Denver in scoring (26.4 PPG) on 56.8 percent shooting. Jocich scored 47 points, grabbed 15 rebounds dished out eight assists and threw in a block for good measure in Denver's Monday's double overtime win over Memphis. The Nuggets are 8-2 in their last 10 games, averaging 117 points per game during that stretch. 

The Nuggets have had their own injury woes this season, losing small forward Jamal Murray to a torn ACL in his left-knee in their loss to the Warriors on 4/12. Murray was a huge part of Denver's offense, averaging 21.2 points per game, while shooting 47.7% from the floor. Even without him, the Nuggets remain a threat and have a strong cast around Jocich, including Michael Porter Jr. (17.6 PPG), Will Barton (12.9 PPG) Aaron Gordon (10.8 PPG) and Monte Morris (10.3 PPG). 

Whether they make the post-season or not, the Warriors' season has been defined by Curry's resurgence. It's unfortunate that it hasn't translated into consistent wins for the 29-30 team. Golden State is capable of knocking off anyone in the league, or being blown out by 53. OK that was one time, to Toronto. They're over it. It's not happening again. Curry began his unbelievable scoring tear not long after this loss, so let's all agree it was a good thing. It was the catalyst to an offensive outputs for the ages. 

Speaking of offensive outputs, will Curry go off for more than 30 against Denver? Or remain on terra-firma like he did Wednesday against Washington, when he merely scored 18 points in the Warriors loss? I'm gonna put him in the middle with a workmanlike 25 points, and give the win to the Nuggets. But trust me, the Warriors and Steph Curry are not done putting up big points this season.