Both teams shot under 40 percent in the opening half as Stephen Curry was just 1-10 from the floor. JaVale McGee had a couple of huge dunks and defensive plays, but the Nuggets relied far too much on Andre Miller in the half-court set. It wasn't enough, and Golden State went into halftime in Denver up 48-44.
The second half was a brilliant display of what playoff basketball is all about. Miller continued to take the young Warriors to school, finishing with 28 points. None were more important than his final two. After Curry was pick-pocketed by Ty Lawson to put the Nuggets up three, he came back down the court and drained an off-balance trey of his own. The Nuggets took the ball up with 15 seconds left, and cleared out for Miller to take advantage of rookie Draymond Green. He finished with an up-and-under layup, leaving Green looking foolish. Tough luck, rook.
Denver kept their winning streak alive at home, winning 97-95. Here's how it went down on Twitter.
Nuggets wearing the gold uniforms today: twitter.com/nuggetsnews/st…
— Benjamin Hochman (@nuggetsnews) April 20, 2013
Not that #DubNation needs another reason to get fired up today, but our new playoff anthem might help: youtu.be/SYT6MDDySrE
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) April 20, 2013
#Nuggets went 16-1 when wearing their gold jerseys this season. instagram.com/p/YVyN_eDA3h/
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
Nuggets enter with a 23-game home winning streak
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 20, 2013
And now Warriors-Nuggets, which seems like it was always the matchup on the NBA Jam arcade machine's demo mode.
— sir broosk (@celebrityhottub) April 20, 2013
Guards getting inside even when Nuggets don't run. Denver plays down hill no matter what. Most everything is to the rim. #NUGGETSvWARRIORS
— Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) April 20, 2013
JaVale McGee powers down the half court alley-oop pass for a BIG dunk #NBARapidReplay– on.nba.com/17aKbZX
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2013
Denver (53.3%) out-shooting Dubs (41.2%) but #Warriors have chance to take lead after timeout w/ @jarrettjack03 FTs. GSW down 20-19, 2:40 1Q
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) April 20, 2013
Javale McGee can't believe that call! bit.ly/11pVBXB
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) April 20, 2013
Well Andre Miller doesn't think the Nuggets can win without a superstar, so he's going to pretend like he is one in the post vs. bigger opp
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 20, 2013
Nuggets' halfcourt offense consists of Andre Miller posting up. Period.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) April 20, 2013
Nuggets' halfcourt offense consists of Andre Miller posting up. Period.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) April 20, 2013
After missing an open transition three, Curry is now 0-7. Warriors still up 34-32, though. Surprising to say the least.
— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) April 20, 2013
The story so far is Curry missing shots, & rightfully so, but look at the score. Warriors are getting stops against THIS team. Encouraging
— Jim Park (@SheridanBlog) April 20, 2013
The shooting has not been on par in this quarter for the @denvernuggets and since the @warriors are desirous to play half-court, 43-37…
— Brad James (@BroncosItaly) April 20, 2013
Nuggets are far better defensive team with Iguodala on the floor, in time he has been off floor Warriors have started scoring
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 20, 2013
Curry 0-8 yet the Warriors up by 6? That's a little terrifying. Nuggets look a bit scared.
— Craig Dodge (@CraigtheDodge) April 20, 2013
Warriors up 43-37, the largest lead of the day. Both teams hitting below 40% from the field
— #GSWStats (@gswstats) April 20, 2013
Crowd is angry with the officials.Also the Nuggets' play.
— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) April 20, 2013
With a quick 8-0 run, #GSW take a 45-37 lead against #Nuggets! Klay Thompson leads the way with 6 pts (3-3 FG).
— Warriors Blogger (@WarOfTheBay) April 20, 2013
Mark Jackson not satisfied w/6pt lead. Feels D lapsed and allowed shots. Warriors have consistently set their own bar. Paying off.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) April 20, 2013
GSW 48, DEN 41 (0:50 2nd) Steph Curry (1-for-10) makes his first shot, and then JaVale McGee posterizes Andrew Bogut.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) April 20, 2013
Damn JaVale
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) April 20, 2013
Good God AlMIGHTY!! did yall see that Javale McGee DUNK?! #NBAPlayoffs
— T-Rizzle BadAzz (@TRizzleBadAzz) April 20, 2013
JaVale McGee gets UP for the dunk #NBARapidReplay– on.nba.com/10qm1f0
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2013
Steph Curry was 123 for 229 on right side three balls (54%) Nuggets have kept him on left side of floor
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 20, 2013
And the #Warriors hold the #Nuggets well below 50 in first half. A mini victory.
— Monte Poole (@1MontePoole) April 20, 2013
And the #Warriors hold the #Nuggets well below 50 in first half. A mini victory.
— Monte Poole (@1MontePoole) April 20, 2013
GSW 48, DEN 44 (half) JaVale McGee gets the crowd and the Nuggets back into the game with a dunk on Bogut and block of Lee before the break.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) April 20, 2013
if this Nuggets-Warriors series went 7 games i wouldn't even be mad at all. Entertaining uptempo basketball
— Cuffs The Legend (@CuffsTheLegend) April 20, 2013
The #Nuggets will need to start making some 3's too.1-10 ain't gonna cut it. #NBA
— Renaud L. Notaro (@RenKnowItAll) April 20, 2013
Nuggets are pushing, creating good looks, then missing, even shots they normally make when they don't make many.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 20, 2013
I always knew the Nuggets couldn't shoot from distance, but this is ridiculous. Just go to the cup.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) April 20, 2013
5 minutes into the 2nd half, #Warriors and #Nuggets still haven't reach the Halftime Knicks-Celtics score #UnlikelyPlayoffsScenarios
— Eran Soroka (@sorokman) April 20, 2013
#Nuggets and #Warriors trading blows. Neither team has led by double-digits. Golden State up 62-60 with 3:20 left Q3.
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
Say what you want about McGee, he is impacting this game. Sometimes for the Warriors but mostly for Denver
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) April 20, 2013
Now 4 straight made FGs for @stephencurry30 w/ that floater in the lane. #Warriors up 62-60 w/ 3:20 left in 3Q. #LetsGoWarriors
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) April 20, 2013
When Warriors are right David Lee is working left block and Curry is right wing – Denver pace has them unbalanced
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 20, 2013
#Nuggets and #Warriors trading blows. Neither team has led by double-digits. Golden State up 62-60 with 3:20 left Q3.
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
George Karl reminds #Nuggets that Warriors got tired late playing in Denver during regular season: "Get fatigue into the game."
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
Warriors REALLY need something out of DLee here–Curry on the bench, Denver rolling…
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 20, 2013
This is the big concern with the Warriors. When they need buckets in the half court, and the jumpers aren't falling, they're toast
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) April 20, 2013
Klay Thompson came to play, kid playin like a vet #Warriors
— Alan Lyampe (@H20Alan) April 20, 2013
Klay Thompson jumper on the break halts 8-0 Denver run. Dubs down 66-64, less than a minute left in 3Q. #LetsGoWarriors
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) April 20, 2013
End of 3Q at @pepsi_center, #Nuggets lead Warriors 72-64 after back-to-back 3s by @coreybrewer13.
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
Related to Denver run: Curry left game with 3:19 left in quarter, Warriors up 2.
— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) April 20, 2013
Warriors bench has been awful. 6-22 FG, 17 points in 45 minutes. Nuggets bench: 12-18 FG, 29 points in 54 minutes.
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) April 20, 2013
Wonder if the David Lee injury could be a groin or a hip pointer. #NBA #warriors
— Scott Neumyer (@scottneumyer) April 20, 2013
Warriors PF David Lee has to limp off the court after a hard fall. Can't tell if it's a hip or lower back injury.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 20, 2013
SPLASH!!! @stephencurry30 answers Miller 3ptr w/ one of his own. He now has 14pts after rough shooting start. #LetsGoWarriors
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) April 20, 2013
Golden State going to zone & #Nuggets once again settling for long jumpers.Unacceptable. Karl should really scream at them for not attacking
— Raul Martinez (@RaulFox31) April 20, 2013
George Karl in #Nuggets huddle: "We don't have any penetration! Bogut can't stay in front of anybody!"
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
NBA – Nuggets lead Warriors, 78-77, with 9:02 left in 4th qtr of playoff series opener; on ESPN/WatchESPN app es.pn/AhidZi
— SportsCenter Alerts (@ESPNSCalerts) April 20, 2013
NBA GSW – Warriors All-Star F-C David Lee left playoff opener vs. Nuggets with 11:33 left in 4th qtr due to inju… es.pn/11xmUMQ
— 1310 KFKA Sports (@1310kfkasports) April 20, 2013
Huge momentum swing — Warriors had break off Bogut block. Turned it over and gave away a plus-one. Can't afford those in the playoffs.
— Fast Break (@GSWFastBreak) April 20, 2013
Andre Miller and-one. Killing the Warriors today.
— Poor Man's Commish (@poormanscommish) April 20, 2013
Video: David Lee appears to injury upper right leg. You can hear him say, "I felt a pop": cbsprt.co/ZcsA23
— Eye on Basketball (@EyeOnBasketball) April 20, 2013
Nuggets are +12 with Iguodala on the floor and -12 with him on the bench.Impact may be larger without Faried
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 20, 2013
Who's going to execute in the final 6 minutes? #Nuggets holding on to 84-81 lead over the Warriors.
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) April 20, 2013
Nuggets PA team plays the altitude medical warning for the visitors. you know, just to be safe for them.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 20, 2013
The Warriors can't guard Andre Miller
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) April 20, 2013
curry took that charge in a way that screamed "i went to private school my whole life before i got to the nba."
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) April 20, 2013
Bogut has done the dirty garbage man work today
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) April 20, 2013
Bogut doing everything right now.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 20, 2013
Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Andre Miller be outchea winning games in 2013.
— Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) April 20, 2013
"reason y'all so tired? out chea running hard all the time. too old for that sh t, youngblood." -47 year-old andre miller
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) April 20, 2013
Did Mark Jones say Andre Miller was cookin with hot fish grease? I have to say I have never heard anyone say that before. Ever.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 20, 2013
How do you miss that Klay?!? Smh.
— Sarah Hecht (@sarahhechtNBA) April 21, 2013
Jack might've saved the game by not assuming Klay was going to make that layup (which he should have)
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) April 21, 2013
Warriors need to steal this.
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) April 21, 2013
Been a very good 4th quarter Warriors vs. Nuggets….A little erratic, but that makes it interesting
— Robert Littal (@BlkSportsOnline) April 21, 2013
And Denver smothers the out of bounds play again.
— Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) April 21, 2013
Curry gets stripped by Lawson, leading to a layup. Green was wide open doing jumping jacks under the basket
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) April 21, 2013
Ty Lawson is the most underrated player in the NBA!
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 21, 2013
"C'mon, Steph, you can't get your pocket picked like that at a time like that." – Karl Malone
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele) April 21, 2013
Wow. Curry with perhaps the clutchest 3-pointer of his career
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) April 21, 2013
HOLY $$$TEPH
— Emile A (@hardwoodhype) April 21, 2013
And then Stepeh comes around and makes the 3 anyway. Wow.
— Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) April 21, 2013
Step Curry unlike Malone redeems himself, the Jumper so pretty
— Robert Littal (@BlkSportsOnline) April 21, 2013
Steph Curry: 'Nuff Said!
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 21, 2013
Wow. Clearout iso for Dre Miller. Wow.
— Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) April 21, 2013
WELCOME BACK, NBA PLAYOFFS
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) April 21, 2013
Andre!!!!!!!!
— Christopher Craft (@ChrisQueso) April 21, 2013
Forgot about Dre.
— Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) April 21, 2013
Andre Miller old man pickup hoop move alert!!!!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 21, 2013
OLD MAN GAME. For. The. Win.
— Mr. Little (@ItsMrLittle) April 21, 2013
FINAL: Nuggets hold on to take Game 1, 97-95. The veteran PG Andre Miller led the way with 28 points:bit.ly/10qrQsU#NBAPlayoffs
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 21, 2013
Can't put the rook on Miller.
— Beckley Mason (@BeckleyMason) April 21, 2013
FINAL: Nuggets 97, Warriors 95. Denver up 1-0 in the series. Game-winning lay-up by Andre Miller.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 21, 2013
FINAL: Nuggets 97, Warriors 95. Denver up 1-0 in the series. Game-winning lay-up by Andre Miller.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 21, 2013
