Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets have a new victim: Stephen Curry’s Warriors replace LeBron’s Lakers

Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets have quietly continued their winning streak over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets have a new victim: Stephen Curry’s Warriors replace LeBron’s Lakers

Nikola Jokic and Nuggets are Stephen Curry and Warriors' Kryptonite too

Tonight, one of the two key games was between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. Fans know the battle will be heated when both Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry are fighting for a higher playoff standing.

On one hand, the Warriors were on a hot 14-2 winning streak since Jimmy Butler joined them. Stephen Curry and the team suddenly were playing a tweaked variant of their famous switching style of basketball and looked unstoppable.

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At the same time, the Denver Nuggets were not in top form. In their last three games, they could have been 0-3 if the Los Angeles Lakers held on to the lead with a minute left. This situation had some believing that the Warriors will continue their winning run.

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When pregame news hit everyone’s notifications tab, that possibility increased after Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun were ruled out. That is three of their five starters, which meant the Warriors were going to have it easy.

That is until the game started, and by the end of the 1st quarter, they were behind. That situation continued until the half. Many expected the Warriors to come out with their now decade old trick of letting it loose in the third quarter.

Poor shooting did not help matters and they eventually lost 105-114. This ends their seven-game losing streak. This loss might be ammunition for those who had doubts about the Warriors. But this loss also happens to be the ninth straight time they have lost to the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic and Nuggets proving to be Warriors’ Kryptonite too

In the past two calendar years, the Denver Nuggets were famous for consistently defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. Since LeBron James and Anthony Davis were at the forefront, fans and media did not look elsewhere as the Lakers became the butt of all jokes considering they did not have an answer.

They fought valiantly in last season’s playoffs, but everyone knew the men in purple and gold did not stand a chance. Even now, if anyone asks a basketball fan or analyst who they will pick between the two, most if not all will pick the Nuggets.

They have become the Lakers’ Kryptonite squad and only this season have they truly proved that they can win a game against them. The Lakers’ win in February gave some a belief that they have figured Jokic and his crew out.

Up until the 2022 playoffs, the Golden State Warriors knew out how to beat the Nuggets. But since then, the Warriors have lost nine straight times. What makes it even more embarrassing is that today’s loss was without Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray in the lineup.

But their absence has brought this win-loss streak to the forefront. The hot handed Warriors could not win against a Nuggets team playing without three starters. This seemingly confirms the Nuggets are indeed the Warriors’ Kryptonite too.

Stephen Curry and his teammates struggled against Nuggets’ length

Today’s game exposed what the Golden State Warriors truly struggle against. Have lengthy defender’s man the perimeter and they struggle. They shot a horrible 24.2% from three collectively. But the one who struggled the most, was their leading superstar.

Stephen Curry did not just struggle from the perimeter. He also was 6-21 from the field. Without all those misses, the team could have had a chance at winning against the Denver Nuggets for the first time in more than two years.

Since he is their primary scorer, the ball went to him most of the time. Game footage shows he looked exhausted late in the game. Maybe they are still overtly reliance on his scoring. If the team collectively do not rethink their strategy, it will be a tough matchup if the two sides end up facing each other in the playoffs.