Nuggets vs Warriors Game 2 Odds, Spread & Picks
- The Nuggets visit the Warriors for Game 2 on Monday night
- Golden State blew out Denver in the series opener
- Read on for the Nuggets vs Warriors odds, spread, preview, and picks
The Denver Nuggets will be looking to bounce back from a brutal loss in the series opener against the Golden State Warriors as they meet once again in Game 2 on Monday night. The tip-off is scheduled for 10 pm ET at the Chase Center.
The Bay Area was rocking in Game 1, with Jordan Poole’s 30 points propelling the Dubs to a 123-107 victory. Denver will be looking to grab a win here before they head back to the Mile High City.
Nuggets vs Warriors Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +7 (-110) | +240 | Ov 224.5 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | -7 (-110) | -295 | Un 224.5 (-110) |
Odds as of April 17th at FanDuel
Golden State is a 7-point home favorite here, after easily covering the spread on Saturday.
Nuggets Need to Bounce Back
We always knew this first-round matchup was going to be tough for the Nuggets and that was extremely evident over the weekend. Denver essentially played catch-up for most of the game, getting dominated in numerous categories. While NBA MVP odds favorite Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, he didn’t receive much help on the offensive end.
Not our night. pic.twitter.com/2vaNnUrgA1
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 17, 2022
Will Barton’s 24 was the next best thing for Michael Malone’s squad, with only two other players finishing with 10 points apiece. To be frank, this turned out to be a dismal shooting night for the Nuggets, draining a mere 31% of their triples and posting a 46% clip from the field. Their attention to detail in the paint also lacked, getting outscored 20-8 in second-chance points.
Also, it wasn’t a banner performance for Jokic. Draymond Green and Kevon Looney absolutely stifled him defensively, limiting the big man to 12-for-25 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc. Although Denver only committed 10 turnovers, they turned out to be crucial, with the Dubs translating them into 20 points.
Overall, it was just a poor showing from the Nuggets. The Joker needs to find a way to take over and hopefully, the supporting cast can step up on both ends as well, especially with their shot-making.
Warriors Looking Scary
The Big 3 of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson barely got a chance to play together during the regular season. But in Game 1, they were all in action, with Klay leading the charge with 19 points while Steph had 16 off the bench in his first game since missing 12 contests due to injury. However, it was youngster Jordan Poole who absolutely erupted offensively in the starting five in place of Curry.
KLAY: “Jordan Poole wow, what a playoff debut. I mean all his hard work is paying off. If he doesn’t get Most Improved Player, it doesn’t make sense.”
JP: 30 PTS 🔥
9/13 FG, 5/7 3PT, 7/8 FT— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 17, 2022
Poole, who averaged just over 23 points since the All-Star Break, went off against Denver, dropping 30 and shooting 9-for-13 overall. The guard couldn’t be stopped and it now leaves Steve Kerr with a bit of a conundrum. Does he send Poole back to the second unit or keep bringing Steph off the bench until he can play full minutes? It will be interesting to see in Game 2.
Play smart.
Play tough.@Oracle || Warriors Talk pic.twitter.com/uD4LDwB8XB— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 17, 2022
The Warriors were truly picking apart the Nuggets, dishing out 33 assists which resulted in countless clean looks from long range, shooting 46%. This is going to be a very hard team to stop on Monday, especially being at home.
Once Curry gets in top form again, there’s no telling how far Golden State can go.
Nuggets vs Warriors Prediction
I honestly thought Denver would make Game 1 closer. But, they really struggled to contain the Dubs and were dismal offensively, partly because of some lockdown defense from the Warriors.
After witnessing the series opener, I have to take Curry and Co. to cover the spread here. Draymond’s presence on both ends of the floor will prove to be crucial again, too.
Pick: Warriors -7 (-110)
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Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
