Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
As the regular season draws to a close, the Golden State Warriors are in a tight race to secure a top-six finish in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in tournament. The squad currently sits fifth, but with the standings incredibly close, even a single slip-up could drop them to seventh or eighth, forcing them into extra games. The Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, have fallen to fourth after losing three of their last five and are now focused on securing home-court advantage for the opening round of the playoffs. With just five games left, every result could have major implications.
Golden State Warriors
The squad returns home following six consecutive games on the road and their second back-to-back in a row. Defensively, they’ve shown notable improvement — in nine of their last ten home games, they’ve held opponents to 114 points or fewer, an area that has seen marked progress since the arrival of Jimmy Butler. However, the Golden State Warriors have dropped their last ten meetings with the Denver Nuggets, including a recent 105:114 defeat. The situation is further complicated by the possible absence of Jonathan Kuminga and an injury to Gary Payton.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are still in a strong position to clinch home-court advantage in the first round. Despite recent setbacks — three losses in their last five games — there were mitigating circumstances. Michael Malone chose to rest several starters against the San Antonio Spurs after a physically demanding overtime encounter with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even with a rotated lineup, the squad demonstrated their depth and talent: Jalen Pickett posted a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Nikola Jokić remains in outstanding form, averaging 29.7 points per game and ranking among the NBA’s top four scorers. As a unit, the Denver Nuggets rank third in overall scoring, putting up 120.9 points per game on average.
Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
A ten-game losing streak to the Denver Nuggets and a gruelling schedule place the Golden State Warriors in a difficult position. With key players from the Denver Nuggets expected to return and the team averaging over 120 points per game, the visitors hold a clear advantage. Therefore, the pick is the Denver Nuggets with a +2.5 handicap.
