Two of the last three NBA champions will face off at the Chase Center on Tuesday as the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets go head-to-head in a highly anticipated Western Conference matchup.
The away side head into this one off the back of arguably their most disappointing result of the season so far last time out, while the hosts extended their winning streak to seven matches.
Match preview
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In a meeting between two of the most in-form teams in the league, the Golden State Warriors fended off the challenge of the New York Knicks to secure a hard-fought 97-94 triumph on Sunday morning.
After an enthralling first quarter that saw both teams score 30+ points, Steve Kerr's men tightened up defensively to go into the interval with a four-point lead, which they were able to protect in the second half.
Taking to the court for the first time as a 37-year-old, Steph Curry showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon as he notched 28 points on 8-20 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.
Now 12-1 across their last 13 matches either side of the All-Star break, the Warriors have put themselves firmly back in playoff contention as they sit sixth in the West, one win behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who have played two more games.
Tuesday's meeting against the Nuggets will afford the Warriors a chance at somewhat redeeming their poor record in this fixture, having lost each of the most recent nine league meetings since game five of the 2022 playoffs first round.
Off the back of victories in each of their last seven matches on home turf, Tuesday's hosts will be confident of continuing their perfect record in the fifth instalment of a current seven-game homestretch before taking on the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors.
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Twenty-four hours after getting themselves back to winning ways against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets played host to the Washington Wizards on Sunday, and a victory looked to be a mere formality.
A nine-point lead at half time meant that things were going to plan for Michael Malone's men, who would, however, go on to suffer a second-half capitulation en route to a 126-123 defeat which was capped off by a late Jordan Poole game winner.
Since winning nine games on the bounce between February 1 and 21, the Nuggets are now 6-6 over their last 12 games and have dropped to third in the West but are level with second-place Memphis Grizzlies on a 43-25 record.
Tuesday's trip to San Francisco kicks off a four-game road trip for the away side ahead of games against the Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets, all of whom are in playoff contention.
Second and third in the league respectively for number of assists per game, the visitors and the home side have often served up an exciting brand of basketball, and we expect another entertaining display here.
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Team News
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Brandin Podziemski is the Warriors' only injury concern here as he continues to nurse a back problem, but the guard is expected back in action for the Bucks game.
Despite being doubtful for his side's clash against the Knicks, Jonathan Kuminga was fit enough to feature last time out and will take to the field on Tuesday once again.
Julian Strawther will be re-evaluated in early April after picking up a knee problem earlier this month, missing each of the Nuggets' subsequent seven matches.
Aaron Gordon (calf) and DaRon Holmes II (Achilles) are also out of contention for the away side, although Gordon is relatively closer to making a comeback.
Golden State Warriors possible starting five:
Curry, Moody; Butler, Santos; Green
Denver Nuggets possible starting five:
Murray, Westbrook; Braun, Porter Jr.; Jokic
We say: Warriors to win by 4+ points
While their record in this fixture is certainly a cause for concern, the Warriors will head into Tuesday's encounter as the more in-form side and will fancy their chances of getting the job done.
We are tipping the home side to come out on top at the sound of the final buzzer.
Adepoju Marvellous
