The Denver Nuggets entered Tuesday with a 0.5-game lead over the Golden State Warriors for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. And on Tuesday night, the Nuggets got to host the Warriors at the Pepsi Center, with the opportunity to show that they’re for real and a legitimate threat to Golden State.
Well, a statement was indeed made… by the Warriors.
Golden State blew out the Nuggets 142-111, and the dismantling began with a 51-point first quarter, the highest-scoring first quarter in NBA history.
https://youtu.be/HjAkrZHuG8M?t=22
Kevin Durant – 17 PTS, 3 3PM
Klay Thompson – 13 PTS, 3 3PM
Steph Curry – 12 PTS, 4 3PMThe @warriors scored 51 points in the first quarter, an NBA record for most points scored in a first quarter. pic.twitter.com/oreUrwwXOE
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 16, 2019
The Warriors have said all along that the regular season is all about prepping for the playoffs — not to get too wrapped up in any win or loss over first few months. But they are enjoying this one — reminding the Nuggets and the rest of the league just how dominant they can be.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 16, 2019
The Warriors shot 60% from the field and were particularly lethal from three-point range, where they made 21-of-39 shots (53.8%). Steph Curry (31 points, 8-of-13 on 3s), Klay Thompson (31 points, 5-of-8 on 3s), and Kevin Durant (27 points, 5-of-7 on 3s) all scored at least 27 points and had at least five three-pointers.
Steph from Colorado Springs 😱 pic.twitter.com/qlbJbnIx9m
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 16, 2019
There’s been talk about the Warriors being more vulnerable this season, but odds are it just appears that way because Golden State hasn’t cared about winning early-season games as much as everybody else has. Their main goal is — regardless of what they tell the media — to get into the playoffs healthy, and should that happen, they know they’ll be the team to beat by a wide margin.
But they’re human beings, and they surely get a bit more motivated to make a statement against teams perceived as a threat. However, when the idea of “sending a message” was suggested to Durant in the postgame, he said, “I think they know who we are.”
KD downplayed the idea of sending a message. “I think they know who we are.”
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 16, 2019
The Warriors — winners of five straight — have an unfairly quick turnaround and travel situation, with a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. It will be interesting to see how Steve Kerr distributes the minutes and if he gives any of the stars a night off.
