Staving off elimination in Game 5, the Denver Nuggets will head back to Golden State for another win-or-go-home contest.
Suffering three-consecutive losses to the Warriors in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs since taking the series opener, Denver added some much-needed physicality, out-muscling Golden State on their way to a 107-100 Game 5 victory.
With one more win needed to force a deciding Game 7, Denver will play at Golden State Thursday, May 2nd at 10:30pm, EDT. Coverage will be available through the TNT television network.
Following a miserable 105-101 loss to Golden State in Game 4, the Nuggets knew they needed to get tougher on both ends of the floor.
On the defensive end, Denver held electrifying scorer Stephen Curry to 15 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the floor. The 15-point total for Curry was 12 below his series average of 27.
Able to contain Curry, the Nuggets did not show the capability to slow down Harrison Barnes. The former University of North Carolina standout finished with a team-high 23 points and led the Warriors in rebounds.
Offensively, Denver looked as sharp as they have all series, connecting on timely buckets in crucial moments of the game.
Andre Iguodala led the way for the Nuggets with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists while point guard Ty Lawson and forward Wilson Chandler added 19 points apiece.
Denver certainly needed to turn up the heat physically and that's exactly what they did, something that didn't exactly sit well with Warriors head coach Mark Jackson.
"They'll be (Denver) physical again. They'll try to beat up Steph Curry," Jackson said to NBA.com reporters. "They'll try to set illegal screens. They'll try to chuck him when he does down the lane."
While there is some obvious dissatisfaction Jackson has with the way the Denver defense played during the last game, Jackson and company know they're only one win away from advancing through the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.
"We're not concerned," coach Jackson said. "We know what we have to do."
With each passing game, the series between Denver and Golden State seems to get better and better.
Be sure to tune in for Game 6 of the Western Conference playoffs between the No. 3 Denver Nuggets and No. 6 Golden State Warriors Thursday, May 2nd at 10:30pm, EDT. Television coverage will be available through the TNT network.
See the Highlights from Denver's Game 5 Victory:
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