Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] It was perhaps inevitable that the Golden State Warriors’ failure to land Lauri Markkanen or Paul George would catch up with them, exposing the challenge of relying on just one star in a league dominated by superteams.
For instance, Buddy Hield’s hot shooting was bound to cool off, leaving the Warriors leaning heavily on their young core to step up alongside Stephen Curry. However, after Tuesday’s loss to the Nuggets, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr singled out rookie Brandin Podziemski for key mistakes that contributed to the defeat.
“He can’t be that guy. He can’t foul jump shooters,” Kerr said in his postgame comments, per Anthony Slater on X (formerly Twitter). “I love Brandin. Hell of a player. Hell of a future. But I hope he watches this clip because he needs to hear it.”
The loss to the Nuggets marked Golden State’s fifth straight defeat, with Denver relying heavily on three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Jokic put up a monster stat line—38 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals in 40 minutes—to carry his team.
Yet, in the eight minutes Jokic rested, the Warriors outscored the Nuggets by 19 points, underscoring Denver’s reliance on their superstar.
The Warriors had built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but Jokic spearheaded a 21-6 Denver run, holding Golden State scoreless in the final 2:32 to secure a 119-115 win. The loss sent the Warriors to a must-win NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Houston Rockets in a single-elimination showdown.
Adding to the Warriors’ frustrations was a controversial officiating error. With 2.1 seconds left, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone called a timeout when Denver had none remaining, which should have resulted in a technical foul.
The missed call deprived Golden State of a free throw and possession—an opportunity to tie the game and potentially force overtime.
In addition to critiquing Podziemski, Kerr voiced his frustration with the officiating mistake, suggesting it cost the Warriors a chance to regroup in overtime. With Jokic logging heavy minutes, Kerr hoped the Warriors could capitalize on fatigue if given the chance.
While the loss exposed flaws in the Warriors’ execution, it also highlighted Denver’s dependence on Jokic to carry the load. Golden State will now look to bounce back against Houston, needing their young core to rise to the occasion and find consistency in a season that’s slipping away.