The Golden State Warriors face a challenging matchup in their NBA Cup opener against the Denver Nuggets without their star player, Steph Curry. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Curry will be sidelined due to an illness that worsened recently.
Curry showed signs of struggle with colds and coughing following their victory over the Phoenix Suns last Tuesday and was already ruled out for the loss against the Sacramento Kings. The absence of Curry comes as a significant setback.
In their first encounter this season, Curry scored 42 points, leading the Warriors to an overtime victory despite Aaron Gordon’s career-best 50 points with exceptional shooting. Without Curry’s scoring ability, overcoming key Nuggets players such as Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Gordon will be an uphill battle.
The game will be played in Denver, where the high altitude presents a tough environment for visiting teams. The Warriors also face fatigue, as tomorrow’s game will be their 10th contest in 18 nights, featuring multiple back-to-back sets.
“It took Curry scoring 42 points in their first contest for the Warriors to win in overtime, despite Aaron Gordon’s career-high 50 points on a scorching 10-of-11 clip on threes.”
With the possibility of Butler also missing the game, the Warriors must prepare for a significantly tougher challenge.
Without Steph Curry, the Warriors face a daunting Denver game amid player uncertainties and fatigue, significantly reducing their chances against a strong Nuggets team.