The Nuggets will get a rematch of their opening night loss to the Warriors on Friday night, but this time, things may be a bit easier for Denver. Golden State ruled out Stephen Curry as the future Hall of Famer is nursing an illness and is too sick to return on Friday night.
Jimmy Butler is also questionable for the game with a back injury, and Draymond Green is probable with a rib injury. All three players missed the Warriors’ game on Wednesday night, a loss to the Kings.
The Nuggets will be looking for their third straight win and a 5-0 start at home as they look to build on their winning ways in Ball Arena. It’s also a chance for Denver to get back on track in the NBA Cup after losing their opening game of group play to the Blazers.
The Emirates NBA Cup is a fun subplot to the season, especially for up-and-coming teams looking to make their mark, but the Nuggets obviously have loftier goals. Still, these Cup games also count as regular-season games, and they are good measuring stick opportunities to stack up against teams in something resembling a playoff environment.
Nuggets should beat shorthanded Warriors
We’ll see what happens with the statuses of the other Warriors’ players, but just missing Curry is enough to derail their team completely. The Nuggets are coming in at full strength, with just Zeke Nnaji on the injury report, who is questionable with an ankle injury.
If the Nuggets lose this game and fall to 0-2 in group play, that’s likely the end of their NBA Cup campaign for 2025, but just as importantly, they don’t want to fall to the middle of the pack in the standings.
It’s still early, but teams like the Thunder, Lakers, Rockets, and Spurs have quickly jumped to the top of the Western Conference and created some separation. The Nuggets, at 5-2, are right there at the top, but they have to take care of business at home against shorthanded opponents like the Warriors.
Most sportsbooks have the Nuggets favored by double digits, and that’s without knowing the statuses of Butler and Green. Curry’s absence alone tanks their offense, and as long as the Nuggets take this game seriously and don’t let their guard down with Curry out of the lineup, they should be able to notch another win.