It's been a bumpy start for the Nuggets so far in 2021 as they have struggled find the consistency that has held them near the top of the Western Conference standings for the last two seasons.
A meeting with the Golden State Warriors presented a difficult challenge, particularly when it came to slowing down the red-hot Steph Curry.
Despite the former MVP's red-hot shooting, it was Nikola Jokic who led the Nuggets to a 114-104 win at home.
The triple-double machine delivers again
Jokic entered this one having not registered a triple-double for FIVE games!
Of course, that fact is hardly noteworthy for 99 percent of the league, but when you are averaging 24 points, 11 boards and 10 assists on the season, chances are your next big night is not far away.
Finishing with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Jokic delivered for Denver down the stretch, scoring eight points in the final six minutes.
With the Warriors threatening to make a late run, it was the Serbian who countered every time, slowing Golden State's momentum with six of those points coming at the free-throw line.
Steph continues to cook
Curry has been on a torrid run scoring of late, with the Denver Nuggets struggling to guard him from the opening tip.
A 12-point first period for Curry led to a 35-point night overall, while he also reeled in 11 rebounds to go with four assists.
An efficient 14-for-23 from the field, he also drilled five shots from the outside, continuing to inch closer to the all-time leader in 3-point makes, Reggie Miller.
After a relatively slow start by his own lofty standards, Curry is now up to 28.4 points per game on 37.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Coming into the season, many wondered how the Warriors would be able to stay afloat after the loss of Klay Thompson and while Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. have improved of late, tonight wasn't the duo's best showing. The pair combined for just 30 points on 26 shots, and put simply, the Warriors need more out of them offensively to compete with the contenders in the conference.
The Warriors are now 6-6 on the season, holding the final playoff spot in the West.
Wiseman throws down
The second overall pick in the draft, James Wiseman entered the league somewhat of an unknown quantity having only played three games in college with Memphis.
The one thing that was well established was his athletic ability and the early returns in the NBA have only confirmed it.
JAMES WISEMAN OVER THE TOP! 😱#NBARooks x #DubNation
— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2021
📺: TNT pic.twitter.com/v1aIoPGvTV
We've seen his ability to run the floor in transition, we know he can throw down, but this one might have been his best yet.
What's next?
The Nuggets will have two nights off before hosting the Jazz, while the Warriors were scheduled for a back-to-back, before their game with Phoenix was postponed due to health and safety protocol implications. The Warriors will now have three nights off before heading to Staples Center to meet the Los Angeles Lakers.
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