The Denver Nuggets (38-19) are in action for the third time in four days since returning from the All-Star Break for their second straight road game as they wrap up their season series against the Golden State Warriors (29-26). The Nuggets are 3-0 in the series thus far this year, and they’ll be looking to secure the sweep later tonight. Denver has won six straight games in the head-to-head between these teams, and they’re looking to make it two years in a row without dropping a game.

For Denver, they’ve started the second half of their season with two wins, and they’re looking to keep that rolling before the next chunk of their schedule where the games get a little more difficult. After tonight, the next five games for Denver are all against teams that are currently in the playoffs in their respective conferences, including a back-to-back later this week.

For the Warriors, they’ve started to turn the corner over the last few weeks. They’re 8-2 over their last 10 games with their two losses coming on the road in overtime on the second night of a back-to-back and the other coming against the LA Clippers (37-18) who stormed back to score 44 points in the fourth quarter. This team was in a funk for much of the year, but they’ve started to figure themselves out. As we’ve seen over the last decade of this team, that’s when they get the most dangerous.

The Essentials

Who: Denver Nuggets (38-19, 16-14 away) @ Golden State Warriors (29-26, 16-14 home)

When: 5:00 p.m. MST

Where: Chase Center

How to watch/listen: Denver Stiffs does not condone piracy..unless it’s the romanticized 18th-century type. AltitudeTV where available. League Pass for non-Denver market viewers. Show up in San Francisco. 92.5 FM KKSE Altitude Sports Radio

Expected Starting Lineups:

GSW: PG Stephen Curry SG Brandin Poziemski, SF Andrew Wiggins, PF Jonathan Kuminga, C Draymond Green

DEN: PG Jamal Murray, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Michael Porter Jr., PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokic

Injuries: Jamal Murray (shins) QUESTIONABLE, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger) QUESTIONABLE, Jay Huff (knee) PROBABLE, Vlatko Cancar (knee) OUT, Hunter Tyson (finger) OUT, Chris Paul (hand) OUT

Three Things to Watch

Containing Stephen Curry

Until his arms fall off or he retires, there will not be a more dangerous offensive player in basketball than Steph Curry. The 15th-year point guard can go nuclear to destroy a team’s chances with just one shot getting him in a groove. Against the Nuggets this year, he’s scored 23, 18 and 30 points. The only game the Nuggets won by more than three? You guessed it. It’s the one he scored 18 points. When you can restrict Curry, that puts more strain on the rest. 

Bench Minutes

The Warriors’ have been tinkering with their starting lineup for much of the year, and their most recent tinker has sent veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson to the second unit. Similar to Curry, he can explode in a quarter for a huge scoring night. The Nuggets’ second unit has been hit or miss at times, and, with members of the starting lineup nursing injuries, they could see extended minutes in this one. If that’s the case, they’ll need to go to bring their best to give the starters as much rest as possible. 

The Thing to Bet – Nuggets O114.5 (-118)

The Nuggets are coming off of a day of rest after playing back-to-back games, and they’re getting a matchup with a team that they’ve faired well against this year. In three games, they’re averaging 119.3 points, and they’ve cleared this line in all three matchups, along with both of their games since coming out of the break. I’m expecting Murray to suit up tonight after getting two days off, and he’s loved this matchup with 25 or more points in both games he’s played thus far. Denver has the size advantage in this one, and, when they get hot from the field, they can light up anyone.