The Golden State Warriors tied the 1957-58 Boston Celtics for the best start to a season by a defending NBA champion, moving to 14-0 after a 104-92 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. With a win over the Bulls in hand, a road victory over the Denver Nuggets tonight (6-7) would tie them with the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the best start in NBA history (15-0).
If they finish over the Nuggets AND beat a vulnerable Los Angeles Lakers team at home on Tuesday, they'll set a new record just two days before Thanksgiving. From there, the schedule sets up nicely for a longer winning streak in advance of the team's Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' all-time mark for best record in a regular season (72-10) could easily be in jeopardy, especially if Golden State can stay healthy and continue matching their NBA-best offense with precision defense on the other end.
First things first, it's time to get you ready for Sunday night's game against the Nuggets with our preview & prediction:
Time: 5:00pm PST
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Line: Warriors by 11.5
TV Channel: ESPN (national), CSN Bay Area (Bay Area local), Altitude (Denver local)
Key To The Game:
In the team's 114-107 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, the Nuggets allowed Phoenix to shoot 67 percent from beyond the arc in the second half and 15-for-27 overall from downtown. Their inability to cover the perimeter has been their Achilles heel all year, and it could prove to be a major killer against a Warriors team that leads the league with a 40.9% mark from long range and 172 total threes -- 43 more than the next closest team in the league (Portland).
If Denver can't close out on Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest of the team's perimeter marksmen, this will be a blowout. If they can, the team's improved offense will give them a chance to pull off the upset.
What They're Saying About The Dubs
Can anyone stop the Warriors' small lineup? (Yahoo Sports)
Warriors look to exploit Nuggets, stay perfect (CSN Bay Area)
Prediction: Warriors 111, Nuggets 99
Denver can't close out on Golden State's shooters. That's a death knell for the Nuggets. If you can't stop Golden State's sharpshooting from outside, you can't beat them.
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