Volume 5: Unrivaled

In the end, the Warriors crushed the Nuggets 123-101 by 22 points, taking the opening game of the playoffs and a 1-0 series lead. In the postgame interview, Mike Malone was even more pessimistic: Curry scored 25 points, Bogdan emerged unexpectedly and hit four threes for 14 points, Wiggins had 18, Brogdon 10, and Markkanen scored 11 on three made threes off his pick-and-rolls with Antetokounmpo. The Warriors once again had six players in double figures. Curry went 11-for-23 from the field, 6-for-11 from three, and 4-for-4 at the line, putting up 32 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. He mostly drew defensive attention in the first half and created opportunities for his teammates. In the third quarter, the Warriors increased their transition attacks, Curry found his rhythm, erupted for 17 points, and ended the game with one devastating run. The two stars went at each other without yielding an inch. Jokic, whom some believed could not even make an All-NBA Third Team, stood toe-to-toe with one of the league's top two power forwards. Jokic no longer sat back in the paint, and his physical expenditure was even greater than in the previous game. He managed only 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. By the end of the third quarter, he was nearly drained, and he scored just 3 points in the fourth. Mike Malone's attitude was extremely pessimistic, even to the point where it risked hurting the Nuggets' morale, but everyone understood how he felt. During the remainder of the second quarter, the Nuggets, who had previously been able to hang with the Warriors, fell behind, and the gap widened to more than 15 points. On the next possession, Antetokounmpo backed Millsap down in the low post, powered his way into the paint, held off Millsap,