After trailing 111-109 with just over three minutes remaining, the Golden State Warriors finished on a 9-2 run to take down the Denver Nuggets 118-113 Thursday night in Game 3.
And with the victory, the Warriors take a (very) commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series, so history is definitely not on Denver’s side.
Jordan Poole scored 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, and Steph Curry came off the bench — quite the sixth man! — to score 27 too. Additionally, Klay Thompson scored 26 points.
What a possession here for the Warriors, and Kevin Harlan bringing the 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/6nvjaCVZcv
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 22, 2022
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokić certainly did enough to be on the winning side of things, scoring 37 points (14-of-22 from the field) and pulling down 18 rebounds. However, Golden State’s Draymond Green stole the ball from Jokić on a crucial play with under 40 seconds remaining.
"GREEN STOLE THE BALL! GREEN STOLE THE BALL!" pic.twitter.com/udklsAOwI9
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 22, 2022
The scary thing for the rest of the Western Conference when it comes to the Warriors is that Golden State is still finding its groove. Steph Curry has averaged just 25 minutes per game this series — topping out at 31 minutes in Game 3 — and has come off the bench in every game. It’s very possible that the Warriors have another level they can reach, and they’ve still found a way to go 3-0 vs Jokić and the Nuggets.
As for Denver, it’s shaping up to be another disappointing end to a promising season. Being without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. has been devastating, but every year in Jokić’s prime is a sacred opportunity. The Nuggets have never even reached the NBA Finals as a franchise, and they have only one win in the conference finals over the last 13 seasons despite eight playoff appearances in that time.
"We gave ourselves a chance tonight…Come sunday we have a decision to make, are we going to roll over or are we going to fight like hell?"
Head Coach Michael Malone on the @nuggets Game 3 loss. pic.twitter.com/AkGNfgIt8n
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2022
Here’s a look at how the hoops world is reacting to Golden State’s win over Denver in Game 3:
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole are the 3rd trio in Warriors history to each record 25 points and 50% shooting in a playoff game and the first since 1989.
1989: Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond & Terry Teagle
1958: Neil Johnston, Paul Arizin & Tom Gola pic.twitter.com/wJbmus6noh
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 22, 2022
Jordan Poole has 86 points in his first three playoff games, second-most in Warriors history.
◽️ 30 PTS, 69.2 FG %, 5/7 3-PT FG
◽️ 29 PTS, 62.5 FG %, 5/10 3-PT FG
◽️ 27 PTS, 69.2 FG %, 3/5 3-PT FG pic.twitter.com/13VgKEzwPm— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 22, 2022
Congrats to Steve Kerr of the @warriors for moving up to 10th on the All-Time Playoff Coaching Wins list! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/P3oAhBRsUj
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2022
Nikola Jokic is one loss away from becoming the first MVP in NBA history to be swept 4-0 in the first round. pic.twitter.com/uQ2MrqZB6D
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 22, 2022
The Warriors are the favorites to win it all (+280) and Steph Curry is the favorite to win Finals MVP (+400) 🏆
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 22, 2022
A lot of people are going to have some big overarching Nuggets take about this series but the only take is that it’s a shame two years of the greatest basketball player on earth’s prime have been wasted due to bad luck with injuries.
That’s it. That’s the only take.
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) April 22, 2022
Spring. Tough to stomach but very true.
Without those two, anything in the playoffs is a bonus.
Never want to admit that, but it's truth.
Warriors missed the playoffs for two straight seasons without two of their guys. https://t.co/E9t5dCXgDt
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) April 22, 2022
— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) April 22, 2022
