“When you face a team that’s the number one offensive team in the NBA, they don’t need 20 extra possessions,” said Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone after the Nuggets 118-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors. “They’re good enough to beat you with no turnovers. Our inability to value the basketball, 20 turnovers for 20 points, that’s beating ourselves.”
THE RUNDOWN
The Nuggets made things interesting in the first half against the Golden State Warriors, but there’s a difference between making things interesting and being in the game. Denver was not in the game, but they had their moments. Down 40-30 at the 8:20 mark of the second quarter Denver went on a 21-10 run to briefly take a 51-50 lead thanks to Darrell Arthur‘s offensive outburst.
Arthur went 5-6 in that span for 11 points, including hitting a corner three. In fact, three of those makes came off jump shots: one in the pick-and-pop variety with the assist coming from Randy Foye, the three coming off a baseline assist from Will Barton and another jumper off the dribble near the elbow. Arthur’s shooting was rewarded by his teammates finding him underneath the hoop for two easy looks.
Denver’s mini-run in the second quarter woke the sleeping giant in the Warriors as they rattled off eight straight points to retake the lead 58-51 and went into the locker room up 64-58 at the half. Denver would only “win” one quarter tonight and it was the second in which they outscored Golden State 35-30.
Once again, the Nuggets dug themselves an early hole down 34-23 after the first quarter and they never recovered after briefly taking that 51-50 lead. The Warriors came out in the third quarter and forced their will on the Nuggets and put the game away in the fourth quarter.
WHERE/WHEN
Denver, CO – Pepsi Center / Nov. 22nd / Game 14
STAR OF THE GAME FOR NUGGETS
Arthur’s fine performance tonight was wasted. Filling in for injured Kenneth Faried in the starting lineup, Arthur scored a team high 21 points on 9-12 shooting and added 8 rebounds. The 21 points from Arthur is the most he’s scored in a Nuggets uniform, breaking his 20 point mark set on Dec. 13th, 2014 in a loss to the Houston Rockets.
Funny enough, Arthur’s career high came back on Feb. 13th, 2011 with the Memphis Grizzlies in a win over the Nuggets when he went for 24 points on 8-11 shooting.
PLAY OF THE GAME
With the Nuggets down 71-62 Emmanuel Mudiay crossed up Steph Curry and nailed a pretty three at the top of the key.
So we gon sit here and act like Steph Curry ain’t just get crossed? pic.twitter.com/q7Yj561Cj5
— NBA Bulletin (@TheNBABulletin) November 23, 2015
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
When the Nuggets went on their 21-10 run to take the 51-50 lead, the Warriors responded by going on a 8-0 run and a 14-7 run to end the half. That answer from Golden State essentially ended the game as the Warriors never relinquished the lead again.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
“The one big thing was the attack mentality that we had,” said Malone. “We went to the foul line 35 times. I think that’s really important. Gallo didn’t shoot the ball well from the field, but he got to the free throw line a bunch.”
Danilo Gallinari was 10-11 from the foul line and the Nuggets were 27-35 on the night, good for 77.1 percent.
LASTING IMPACT
Denver drops to 6-8 on the season and into sole possession of ninth place in the Western Conference.
Emmanuel Mudiay went 6-21 from the field, 28.6 percent shooting, but played in an aggressive style and looked to score throughout the game. He will continue to be leaned on to score and he’s looking more-and-more comfortable in balancing out getting his teammates involved and picking his spots. Mudiay hit all four of his free throws and handed out 8 assists.
Nikola Jokic started his second straight game and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in just over 27 minutes of action.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Nuggets will be back in action at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24th, against the Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers.
