Reggie Jackson continues his stellar performance filling in for Jamal Murray due to injury, creating numerous mismatches with his length.
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Steph Curry
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA is widely recognized as one of the greatest long-range shooters ever seen in basketball history. Winning three championships with them and becoming one of their premier players he has received numerous honors including being named NBA MVP twice and an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
However, this shooting star had to endure much prejudice throughout his career. People often told him he was too short and weak for the sport; nevertheless he persevered until eventually getting an opportunity to play at Davidson College, where he quickly established himself as a star player.
At Davidson, he set several scoring records and led them to an Elite Eight finish in the 2008 NCAA Tournament – where he first showcased his ability to hit three-pointers. Later that year, the Golden State Warriors selected him with seventh pick overall in their 2009 NBA draft.
Curry is an NBA champion, five-time All-Star and all-time leader in three-pointer made. Additionally, he is an excellent defender who has played an integral part in the Warriors recent success as well as being an excellent playmaker with high assists numbers year-after-year.
The Warriors have fallen into something of a slump recently with four consecutive losses, so a win against Denver Nuggets would be huge for them. Curry and Draymond Green’s return is essential to securing success for this squad.
Curry will likely play against the Nuggets, although his knee remains an issue. He has been dealing with patellofemoral pain in his left knee for the past several games and played through it last week in their loss against Phoenix Suns; but, unfortunately, was not at his best performance.
Even with his injuries, Stephen Curry remains one of the premier point guards in the league. His skills and ability to hit shots has earned him the moniker “Steph-Shaq.” In just over three years of NBA career he has made himself into a multimillionaire; currently his contract worth an estimated $200 Million over five years.
Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins played well during his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Western Conference. Following a trade to Golden State in 2022, he has quickly established himself as one of their key players, scoring at least 20 points in 13 of 14 games since becoming a starter.
He is averaging 19.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers and 2.2 assists per game for the Warriors this season. Klay Thompson also provided help defensively despite not stopping Jokic from scoring. His defense against Jokic was quite good though not much could be done to stop him scoring.
On January 2, Wiggins scored 31 points en route to beating the Boston Celtics, his first 30-point game this season and passing Sam Mitchell (7,161). Wiggins has established himself as an elite performer within the NBA and should continue making headlines this year.
Even without Draymond Green on their roster and facing off against an opponent with relatively short roster depth, the Warriors remain favorites to take this matchup and cover the over/under of 239 points.
Last time around, the Warriors and Nuggets faced off, with Denver emerging victorious by 119-103. While the Warriors held most of the lead during that contest – even going as far as to build an 11-point advantage during the fourth quarter – ultimately they couldn’t withstand Denver’s late comeback attempt and ultimately fell.
This will be the final game between these teams until playoffs. Both have won three times each out of their previous five meetings, combining for 15 wins in their 19 regular-season contests.
The Warriors will be without Steph Curry, Draymond Green and De’Anthony Melton for this game against Denver and hope to rebound after their difficult loss against them; however, without its key players they’ll face Denver’s high-scoring offense without much help from Steph Curry, Draymond Green or De’Anthony Melton and may need to find ways to work around that in order to make an effort at making the playoffs.
Draymond Green
Not many people know it, but Draymond Green is an integral component of the Warriors defense. He regularly draws Nikola Jokic as his assignment and takes pride in doing everything possible to force Jokic into an exhausting fight for every inch of court space he occupies.
Without him, the Warriors appear vulnerable. That doesn’t mean they won’t win; but their chances will likely be much tougher in the matchup ahead.
Jokic is a formidable opponent, so even if the Warriors manage to slow him down a bit, scoring on him may still prove challenging. That is why getting off to a quick start tonight is crucial as playing from behind in the second half could prove costly for their chances.
After their poor shooting performance in their previous game, the Nuggets will look to make amends at home against the Warriors. Meanwhile, their opponent hopes to regain playoff contention following a disappointing loss last time out.
The Warriors will look to rebound from an embarrassing home loss against the Suns by out-maneuvering them and winning this matchup despite missing several key players.
This will be a crucial test for the Warriors, as they go up against a Denver squad that has been performing well recently. They must play strong defense to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
The Warriors remain in rebuilding mode, yet have shown signs of life recently. Their focus should remain on improving defense if they want to compete with top teams in the league; Draymond Green must show more consistency on both ends of the floor; though recently he has struggled. Let’s hope he finds success this time out!
Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield has been an important component of Golden State Warriors this season, yet his recent slump coincides with their slip in Western Conference standings. While Hield’s explosive shooting numbers early in 2024-25 season hinted at a potential All-Star campaign, his struggles suggest he must do more than shoot threes to contribute meaningfully for Golden State.
Hield is a high volume scorer with an impressive skill set that includes long range shooting, ball handling and driving to the basket. He boasts a good wingspan and strong frame to make up for his undersized positional height. Hield has made significant improvements over his two seasons as an NBA player; another surge in scoring would enhance this overall perception.
Hield is a skilled long-range shooter, but his greatest strength lies in his ability to drive to the basket and finish at the rim. His aggressiveness and willingness to take big shots make him an offensive threat for opposing teams; however, too frequently opting for three pointers limits his efficiency and can make him one-dimensional player.
He has an excellent handle and can pass the ball effectively, which has improved over the past couple seasons, creating opportunities for his teammates while scoring. He is smart and unselfish player with an in-depth knowledge of basketball.
The Warriors possess a deep roster, yet some of their playmakers have struggled this season. Although still strong contenders for championship glory, the team needs someone to come off the bench and provide energy and inspiration that can propel it toward glory.
Hield, who is in his eighth season of NBA play, has flourished under Steve Kerr with the Warriors. He’s proven himself reliable as a scorer while showing signs of becoming an elite talent if his game continues to improve. Hield’s presence will only strengthen their bid for championship glory.
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