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Fifth-seed Golden State Warriors receive positive news ahead of Nuggets matchup

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he dunked the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Chase Center on March 13, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he dunked the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Chase Center on March 13, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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With the New Orleans Pelicans defeating the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, the Golden State Warriors have officially moved into the Western Conference’s fifth-seed as we countdown to the conclusion of the regular season.

The defending champions are not yet secured a top six spot, though they do appear in better shape than a Clippers unit currently playing without star wing Paul George. We can quibble over who the Warriors would prefer to face in the first-round of the postseason, but the fact is that the primary objective is to simply get there without the need of the Play-In tournament.

The Golden State Warriors aim to avoid the Play-In tournament continues with a tough trip to Denver to face the first-seed Nuggets on Sunday.

Golden State have shared a major positive ahead of their matchup with the Nuggets, with Draymond Green completely absent from the injury report. It means the 33-year-old must have pulled up well after a collision on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. He seemingly knocked knees with Tre Jones during the second-quarter, forcing him to leave for the locker room and putting hearts in mouths for all Warrior fans.

Green returned to play out the game, and he now appears set to take on the Nuggets in another vital clash. What kind of Denver lineup they face is more in question, with a host of key players under injury clouds as the franchise sets one eye on the postseason.

Four of the Nuggets’ regular five starters are on the injury report — MVP candidate Nikola Jokic is questionable with calf tightness, while Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. are all probable. Denver have one hand on the top seed in the conference, limiting the motivation to show 100% commitment to the final few games of the regular season.

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The hosts have won both battles against the Warriors this season, including a runaway 17-point victory in Denver on February 2. In other crucial Western Conference matchups on Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Houston Rockets, and the Phoenix Suns head to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder.

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