NBA playoff results: Golden State beats Denver

“Waaaaa-rriors !. Waaaa-rriors!”. San Francisco has waited two years to be able to sing that choir, to be able to applaud those three phenomena of the basket to be idolized as the rock stars. Except that in the reunion match of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the band that brought 3 rings in 5 seasons to Golden State and that did not play together in the playoffs since the 2019 Finals, the man to praise is Jordan Poole. In his first time in the postseason, the Golden State star of tomorrow dominates with 30 points, rewarding coach Kerr for the choice to start him and not the returning Curry in the quintet. Denver falls 123-107, dominated by the plays of Poole and the unity of the Warriors, which seemed so much that of when Curry, Green and Thompson rhymed with the NBA title. Not even Nikola Jokic managed to save the Nuggets: the goal now is to understand what went wrong and try again on Monday in race-2.

star among the stars

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Poole is the Golden State project for tomorrow, but confirmed to be great today with a playoff first to remember. “I waited two years for this moment, but I had fantastic mentors who explained what to expect – he says -. They told me I had to be myself, and that’s what I did.” Kerr chose him in the quintet and not Curry to better control Steph’s time (16 points in 22 ‘), knowing what to expect from Poole. “He is not afraid of the limelight, he works hard to be ready for moments like this,” said the coach. Around Poole, Golden State has blossomed as in the best days, spinning the ball (33 assists) and adding a wonderful defense managed to the great by Green (12 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists), helped especially by Andrew Wiggins, who it exhausted Jokic and sent the rest of Denver into a tailspin.

In attack, in addition to Poole Thompson very well, 19 points to confirm that he is close to his best level. Curry was thus able to enjoy a return without having to overdo it, as had happened to him in the other two times in his career in which he started from the bench in the playoffs. “He started without forcing, then when he got comfortable he started making a basket,” Kerr said of his star. It is likely that Steph’s experiment from the bench will be repeated in race-2, but in the long run the Warriors coach has the solution ready: a new Death Lineup, like the one decisive for the 3 titles, with Curry, Thompson, Poole, Wiggins and Green. “I think that quintet will be our trump card for many years,” enthused Klay.

false start

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Denver was Jokic and little else. The mvp, caged, finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, but had to take 25 shots and both he and coach Malone showed the frustration of just two trips to the line. It was clear that Jokic would be the focal point of Golden State’s defense, but the problem for the Nuggets was failing to create viable alternatives. “We can’t beat ourselves and the Warriors in the same match – explained Malone -. In this one we made too many mistakes, we had too many moments in which we lacked discipline: that’s why we lost so badly.” Denver was down by 20 after 3 quarters, had just scored 70 points and was shooting 42% from the field, with the game already compromised. But no drama, assures Jokic: “I think we have lost game-1 in practically every series since I’ve been here – said the mvp -. We have to react, understand how to improve. To make this a long series we have to hope. to win a game here in San Francisco: we are the underdogs, we play without pressure but we want to at least fight. ”

the match

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First quarter from battle (27-26 Nuggets), in the second the Warriors explode: Poole puts in 14 points, the attack turns which is a marvel and the defense that, harnessed Jokic, does not have to worry about the other Nuggets. At the interval, Golden State is ahead 58-47 after a partial of 18-4 and in the third quarter the advantage swells again, up to 90-68 that Payton (under the eyes of dad) seals from the line 1 ‘from the third siren . The only noteworthy event of the 4th period is the expulsion of DeMarcus Cousins ​​for a double technician for protests: even that, like the Warriors show, is very reminiscent of the old days.

Golden State: Poole 30 (4/6 of two, 5/7 of three, 7/8 free throws), Thompson 19, Wiggins 16, Curry 16. Rebounds: Wiggins 9. Assists: Green 9.

Denver: Jokic 25 (12/21, 0/4, 1/2 tl), Barton 24, Morris 10, Hyland 10. Rebounds: Jokic 10. Assists: Jokic 6, Morris 6.