The Golden State Warriors have already secured a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, so their primary aim in their final group game is to get back to their winning ways.
Golden State has lost four straight games after starting the season with a 12-3 record. Despite their recent struggles, the Warriors are 3-0 in West Group C and have a chance to complete a sweep of the opening round of the in-season tournament when they face the host Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.
Denver is 1-2 in West Group C, having lost games to the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks at home, while winning against the Memphis Grizzlies on the road. The Nuggets have been inconsistent since mid-November, alternating wins and losses over their past seven games.
On Sunday night, Denver had a chance to secure back-to-back wins but poor free-throw shooting led to a 126-122 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers. The game marked the return of Aaron Gordon, who had missed 10 games due to a calf strain.
Denver went 10-for-19 from the free-throw line in the loss, with three misses by the usually reliable Michael Porter Jr., who is shooting a career-low 62.2 percent from the line this season.
Porter, who has undergone three back surgeries by age 25, has been diligent about maintaining his health and has been a key player for Denver. He is second on the team in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game, and will be a focal point of Golden State’s game plan on Tuesday night. The Warriors are coming off a 113-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Coach Steve Kerr felt that his team played well, but the Suns were simply better.
Despite losing four straight games, the Warriors remain determined. Golden State has been in a championship window for a decade, winning four titles in that span. While their stars are aging, they continue to play at a high level. The depth of the roster this season is notable, with 13 players averaging at least 12.1 minutes per game, helping to keep 36-year-old star Stephen Curry fresh.
