The Golden State Warriors have romped to a second consecutive victory over the Denver Nuggets to open the 2022 Playoffs. The championship DNA of this team has shown through both the games, as the Warriors have absolutely dominated MVP-elect Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets.
Tensions are high in Denver with a heated clash between Aaron Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins occurring during the Game 2 loss at the hand of GSW. However, the situation went from bad to worse with 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter as Nikola Jokic was ejected from the game.
Jokic complained to the referees aggressively after not having a foul called during a play under the rim while defended by Draymond Green. Jokic then received his second technical for yelling at the referee and was ejected from the game, as Green waved him to the locker room.
Jokic ejected. 👀
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 19, 2022
The Nuggets season is more than likely over. However, people have felt this way before during the 2020 NBA Playoffs when the Nuggets made repeated comebacks from 3-1 down. The Warriors with many of the current members know what it feels like to blow a big playoff lead as well.
But those are exceptions to the norm of teams playing like this in the Playoffs. The Nuggets have visible low energy and a lack of commitment on the floor. The Warriors are playing small-ball lineups that are confounding the Nuggets’ defense and eliminating a lot of the strengths of Jokic’s game. The Nuggets will go as far as Jokic can take them. It looks like they are headed for a first-round sweep.
Hopefully, the Nuggets can find the magic from the comebacks they have orchestrated before. But a championship-level team like the Warriors will do their best to shut it down and deal a death blow in Game 3 in Denver.
