Denver Nuggets - Golden State Warriors predictions and free betting tips [25/12/2023]

The reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, led by Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, will take on Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors in the NBA's Christmas Day showdown.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets concluded their three-road game streak against Eastern Conference teams, which featured clashes against the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte Hornets, with mixed victory styles. Particularly impressive was the game against the Hornets, whereby the Nuggets held off the rivals from scoring a single point in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter, thus converting an eight-point deficit at the start of the final period into a 15-point edge. Head coach Michael Malone singled out this moment as one of the most remarkable in his nine-year career in Denver, especially given the team's feat of halting the opponent's 17 consecutive attack attempts.

On Saturday, they claimed an away victory over the Hornets, 102:95. Jamal Murray, fully recovered from a right knee strain, scored 20 points, with 12 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points and Nikola Jokic contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. The Nuggets converted 43 percent of their field goals and sank 12 out of 30 three-pointers, effectively ramping up their defence in the third quarter and restricting the Hornets to only 9 points, enabling considerable success on the road.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are on an upswing, boasting five consecutive wins, including those against the Nets, Blazers twice, the Celtics and the Wizards. Throughout this series, Warriors netted an average 117.2 points with a 46% field goal percentage, whilst conceeding 115.8 points with a 46.2% opponent hit rate. Stephen Curry, averaging 28.3 points and 4.4 assists, and Klay Thompson netting an average of 24.8 points and converting 46.3 percent of his three-pointers deserve special mention. Besides Curry, remarkable performances were seen from others, despite the absence of crucial players including suspended Draymond Green, Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins, who missed the last two games due to illness.

In their recent game, the Warriors showcased their mettle, securing a home victory against the Blazers, 126:106, thereby improving their home standing to 9-6 for the season. Klay Thompson contributed 28 points, Steph Curry pitched in with 27 points, while rookie Podzemski had another brilliant match, adding 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. In the winning game, the Warriors maintained a 57% field goal rate and 10 out of 33 three-pointers. They started slowly, but grasped control in the second quarter, earning 34 points against the opponent's 16, overcoming an early 11-point lag and then accumulating 69 points in the second half, leading them to a smashing victory. Curry is currently the top player in terms of successful free throw rate at 93.3%, and Chris Paul ranks second for a ratio of assists and turnovers (6.3).

Prediction for the Denver Nuggets – Golden State Warriors Game

The Warriors, sans Green and Payton, are gradually inching back to being near-champions, and Thompson's surprisingly early comeback is really helping lift the team. Denver is inexperienced in spectacular Christmas games, unlike the Warriors who are regular participants. The Nuggets played on Christmas Day last year and in 3 of the past 5 seasons, including an overtime victory over Phoenix in 2022.
The Warriors have yet to prove themselves on the road, where the statistics are dismal, but they are currently riding a five-game winning streak and can give the Nuggets, who have just finished a three-match road trip with 3 games in 4 days, a run for their money. I am betting on a positive handicap for Golden State.