The Golden State Warriors arrive in Denver Monday in the middle of their worst start in 19 years, a 0-3 hole built largely out of necessity rather than poor play. Jimmy Butler remains out all season recovering from a torn ACL, and Golden State also missed Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, and Al Horford for Saturday’s 131-122 loss to Phoenix, a game the Warriors led after one quarter before Devin Booker’s 43 points pulled the Suns away. Curry, Green and Podziemski are off the injury report for Monday, which should finally give Golden State something close to its real lineup.

Denver enters Monday after erasing a 23-point hole to beat New Orleans in overtime on Saturday, 141-135. Nikola Jokic recorded his 199th career triple-double, second all-time behind only Russell Westbrook, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. At the same time, Jamal Murray dropped 42 and hit the free throws that forced overtime. The Nuggets are already banged up at forward, playing without Cam Johnson, Alpha Diallo, Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones, but their two stars have been enough so far.

Warriors vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds

Denver is a 7.5-point home favourite on the NBA odds, with the moneyline priced at -290 for the Nuggets and +235 for Golden State. The Over/Under sits at 236.5, with both sides carrying standard -110 juice.

The season is just underway, but these two squads are a combined 1-4 against the spread; Denver has yet to cover this season. They’ve cashed the Over in two of their combined five games. The Nuggets’ two games have been a Tale of Two Cities; they scored 84 points in their season-opening road loss before following that up with 141 points. On the flip side, the Warriors have put up 105, 108, and 122 points through three games.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have been forced to lean on youth, with rookies Yaxel Lendeborg and Graham Ike starting alongside second-year guard Will Richard and Gui Santos in Phoenix. Lendeborg has been a pleasant surprise, scoring a season-high 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three against the Suns, and De’Anthony Melton added 25 off the bench. Still, a defence that allowed 26 points off turnovers in that loss will have a far tougher task against Jokic and Murray than it did breaking in against Phoenix.

With Curry, Green and Podziemski all back, Golden State at least gets a look at something resembling its intended rotation, though Gui Santos (left knee tendinitis) is questionable and Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody remain out. Steve Kerr’s challenge now is finding minutes for a crowded, patchwork roster while still trying to avoid an 0-4 start.

Denver Nuggets

Jokic and Murray carried Denver through its wildest game of the young season, combining for 22 of the Nuggets’ 32 third-quarter points as they clawed back from 23 down. Rookie Trevon Brazille added a season-best 17 points, including a go-ahead corner three in overtime during his home debut, giving new head coach David Adelman some encouraging bench production to lean on.

The concern is depth up front, with Johnson doubtful and Diallo, Strawther and Jones all unavailable. That puts even more scoring pressure on the Jokic-Murray duo, but off a rest day against a Golden State team still finding its footing, Denver’s two stars should be capable of carrying the load again.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Warriors vs. Nuggets?

Golden State gets healthier bodies back, but asking a patchwork roster to slow down a motivated Jokic at altitude is a tall order. Golden State’s last win at Mile High came in March 2022, so history is against them. Denver’s stars have carried far heavier loads than this already, and home teams getting a step-up in talent at every position tend to cover these kinds of numbers against a team still finding its rotation.

​Best bet: Nuggets -7.5 (-110)

WARRIORS

Away

110

NUGGETS

Home

122

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