As soon as Nikola Jokić lobbed an alley-oop pass to Aaron Gordon for a dunk, Steve Kerr called timeout.
The Warriors led the entire game up to this point but held just a three-point advantage with one minute left. They built a 16-point lead in the third quarter, powered by a game-breaking defensive performance from Gary Payton II and a revamped, tightened lineup.
But now it was closing time. Steve Kerr drew up a beautiful play to spring Klay Thompson for a 3, but his wide open look rimmed out. Jokić scored inside. Stephen Curry stepped back for another trey, but it too missed and led to an easy Monte Morris layup.
The Nuggets had their first lead of the game. But a Splash Bro had another chance. Curry drove right at Monte Morris, rose for a fadeaway at the elbow and sunk it for an and-1. Denver’s lead lasted nine seconds. The Chase Center jumped to their feet.
Then Jokić drove against Kevon Looney, found Morris on the outside, and the point guard reversed the home crowd’s mood. Morris’ 3 dropped, and sent the Warriors (42-17) into the All-Star Break with a heartbreaking 117-116 loss. Golden State held a lead for 47:46 of game time.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ last-second loss — GSW’s fourth in the past five games.
Jokić shows his MVP case
The Warriors put the Nuggets in a tsunami, and Nikola Jokić was a mere life vest; their only possible hope of staying afloat.
Jokić pushed the ball in transition, rifled one-handed passes to all corners of the court, dominated the offensive glass, bullied defenders inside and stroked 3s. Another day, another dollar for the 6-foot-11, 280-pound superstar.
He posted 11 points and eight rebounds in his first 10 minutes. He had 16 and 15 at halftime. When he checked back into the game in the fourth quarter with his Nuggets down eight, the Chase Center crowd held its breath. He canned a 3 to bring the deficit to five, found Aaron Gordon with lobs for alley-oops and willed his team closer for the rest of the game. Until the very end when he found Morris.
There are three major criteria for a player to win NBA MVP: best player on the best team, most dominant statistical season, and funnest narrative. The third is more of a tiebreaker between the first two, but has still come into play.
Despite outrageous seasons from Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jokić has a serious case to take the statistical dominance category.
Jokić leads the NBA in win shares, box plus-minus, and value over replacement player. His 32.5 player efficiency would be the highest ever recorded. Better than Antetokounmpo, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
If you only prefer traditional stats, Jokić is the only player in the Top 10 in points, rebounds and assists per game.
The Serbian center is playing practically flawless basketball. And he’s doing it without his two running mates, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.. When Porter went out, the general feeling within the team was just how much can this team take, Denver coach Michael Malone said pregame.
Jokić answered that concern with his outstanding play. He finished with 35 points, 17 boards, six assists and the game-winning play. The Nuggets are eight games over .500 entering the All-Star Break. The biggest reason is they have the MVP — or at least a favorite.
Starting lineup tweak pays off
Given the Warriors’ recent defensive skid and three of four losses, GSW coach Steve Kerr inserted Gary Payton II into the starting lineup. Kerr said he wanted a different look, and likes Payton II’s energy and defense, particularly at the point of attack.
The shift worked wonders. GSW’s ball movement was crisp, the defense flew around Kevon Looney led an early charge that gave the Warriors the edge in rebounding. Nikola Jokić was still getting his, but Golden State was winning the key factors.
By the time Golden State made its first substitutions, the starters earned a nine-point lead. The starters did their job to begin the second half as well, turning a nine-point lead into 11 — it was up to 16 during their stretch — with a blitzing defense.
Payton II in particular played outstanding. He patrolled the baseline, searching for backdoor cuts and easy buckets. He hustled all over the place. After coming back from a minor ankle injury, he stuffed Jokić at the rim — the team’s defensive highlight of the year so far.
“I think when I put shoes on, I’m like 6-foot-9” Payton said at halftime.
The power-forward-stuck-in-a-shooting-guard’s-body cliché never felt so real. He bottled up Will Barton and Jokić alike, recording six steals and a block to go with 12 points in 25 minutes.
But part of the starting lineup change was also designed to to help the reserves by shaking up the rotation behind the starters. Jonathan Kuminga could spend more time as a featured option in the offense, as well as against more reserve defenders. He relentlessly attacked DeMarcus Cousins from the perimeter, scoring inside with ease. The Rising Star also nailed his first two 3s, leading to a 12-point, three-assist half.
Jordan Poole (15 points on 11 shots) similarly fit nicely with the change. The Warriors played only nine guys until garbage time, keeping Moses Moody, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damion Lee saddled to the bench.
These Warriors have dealt with plenty of lineup variability. They’re probably used to it by now. But this particular change made everyone appear especially comfortable in their roles. Decisions should be matchup-based, but this could be a starting lineup the Warriors go with consistently before Draymond Green returns.
Cleaning up the transition D
One of the main issues Steve Kerr has consistently pointed to in the past two weeks has been Golden State’s transition defense. A lot of that has to do with simple effort in sprinting back on defense, in addition to knowing the game plan and recognizing cross-matches.
On Wednesday, Golden State was perfect in the area. It was clearly an emphasis. The Nuggets’ first fast break points came in the fourth quarter.
Denver isn’t a particularly up-tempo team, with the 21st highest pace in the league. But the Nuggets still average 12.6 fast break points per game and can be dangerous when Jokić leads a charge.
Early on, Payton II intercepted a deep Jokić outlet pass like he was playing defensive back. The Warriors were expecting it. Denver scored just five transition points in total.
Overall, Golden State forced 19 turnovers, many of which were live ball situations. Wednesday may have been the best defensive performance in weeks — a welcome sign heading into the All-Star Break despite the result.