Lackluster offense in Denver puts Golden State Warriors in perilous position

Playing without back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and down 15 points during the second-quarter, the Denver Nuggets have capitalized on a deteriorating Golden State Warriors offense at Ball Arena on Sunday.

The defending champions begun efficiently with 36 first-quarter points on the back of 4-for-8 three-point shooting, but it was all downhill from that point as the Warriors went 5-for-34 from deep over the remainder of the game. Still, some defiant defense gave Golden State an opportunity late, yet Klay Thompson’s two game-winning three-point attempts yielded nothing but a two-point loss.

The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a perilous position again in the Western Conference after a disappointing 112-110 loss in Denver.

Golden State are ultimately a product of where their stars take them, and the facts are they were outplayed by what is a high-quality supporting cast. Thompson and Stephen Curry combined for 46 points on a mammoth 56 shots, with the splash brothers shooting a game-defining 30.4% from the field.

Contrast that with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. who combined for 55 points on 20-for-38 (52.6%) shooting, a stark contrast to what their more well-credentialed opponents delivered in a crucial game.

Steve Kerr re-inserted Kevon Looney into the starting lineup despite Jokic’s absence, and it worked rebounding-wise as the visitors snatched 22 offensive boards to create a plethora of second and third opportunities. Golden State closed the game on a 9-0 run over the final few minutes, but their 40% shooting as a team proved too hard to overcome.

The loss puts the Warriors in a perilous position with three games remaining — they tentatively hold onto the West’s sixth-seed, with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans both half a game behind. Given all of the Los Angeles Clippers, Lakers and Pelicans hold the tiebreak over them, Golden State could easily find themselves falling to eighth over the coming days.

It was a golden opportunity for the Warriors without Jokic on the floor, and the simple matter is that their best players failed to take advantage. They now return home for a meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.