The Golden State Warriors defeated Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in five games, despite much effort down the line. The reigning MVP gave them a scare late in Game 5, but Steph Curry’s brilliance, along with the surprise contributions of Gary Payton II, was enough to seal the victory. The Warriors will now await the conclusion of Memphis’s matchup with Minnesota to determine their next opponent.
As previously said, Gary Payton II was critical for Golden State down the line, making clutch shots in the fourth quarter. Following his last three, Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James tweeted: Gary Payton Sr. was in the building for his son’s tremendous game and must have been overjoyed to see him contribute that way down the stretch. The Warriors nearly did not sign him, as the choice came down to Payton or Avery Bradley. The team finally picked GP2, which proved to be the correct choice.
With the Warriors completing their series in five games, they will now enjoy extra rest while the Timberwolves and Grizzlies will play at least six games. The victor of the series advances to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, where they will face Golden State.
