The Golden State Warriors spent most of Thursday night’s game trailing behind the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets seemed to have the upper hand on offense throughout, with Aaron Gordon delivering a spectacular performance, scoring 50 points. Gordon even made eight consecutive three-pointers at one point, dazzling fans and putting immense pressure on the Warriors.
Despite the Nuggets’ offensive onslaught, the Warriors managed to pull off a thrilling 137-131 victory, thanks largely to a clutch masterclass from Stephen Curry. This win improved Golden State’s record to 2-0 for the season.
### A Potent Closing Lineup
Head coach Steve Kerr’s choice of closing lineup was arguably the team’s best five-man unit, featuring Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and new addition Al Horford. This formidable lineup had been widely regarded as one of the most dangerous combinations entering the season, and they certainly lived up to expectations in handling the Nuggets—who many see as strong contenders, potentially rivaling the Oklahoma City Thunder for the title.
Interestingly, Kerr revealed after the game that this lineup had never even practiced together before. The decision to deploy this unit came during a timeout, suggested by assistant head coach Terry Stotts and assistant Chris DeMarco. Kerr explained, “We haven’t even talked about that combination until tonight. It just felt like the right thing to do. They were having their way with us throughout the game. I felt like, to win the game, we were gonna have to get our best defensive lineup on the floor. Our most athletic lineup.”
### Curry’s Clutch Heroics Seal the Win
Thursday was shaping up to be Aaron Gordon’s night, especially as he was on an unstoppable hot streak, knocking down triple after triple. Late in the game, Gordon hit a three-pointer to put the Nuggets ahead 120-117 with about 20 seconds left.
But Curry was not about to let his team be overshadowed. On the very next possession, he answered with a clutch three-pointer to tie the game and send it into overtime, continuing his own late-game scoring surge.
In the overtime period, Curry opened the scoring with another three-pointer, igniting a crucial run for the Warriors. This was followed by a three from Horford, and finally, the dagger shot from Jimmy Butler, which sealed the victory for Golden State.
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The Warriors’ ability to close the game with such a dynamic and relatively untested lineup bodes well for the rest of the season. With Curry leading the charge and a versatile group on the floor, Golden State looks ready to challenge any team that stands in their way.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-golden-states-closing-lineup-vs-nuggets-had-never-even-practiced-together