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Green-less Warriors fail in comeback to Nuggets, fall to 36-3

Eric Freeman

The Golden State Warriors spent two games without Stephen Curry in late December, splitting the pair in a respectable but clearly shorthanded showing without one of the best players in the NBA. Wednesday saw Golden State play its first game of the season without the rested Draymond Green, and the result proved once again that Curry and Green are Nos. 1 and 1A when it comes to assessing the most important players on the league's best team.

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The Warriors fell 112-110 to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center, bringing the defending champions' record to 36-3. Despite serious second-half struggles, the Warriors had two chances to go ahead in the final seconds of regulation. Trailing 109-102 with all of a minute remaining, scored five points in 23 seconds (including a 33-footer from Curry) to set up a key defensive possession. That ended with an Andre Iguodala block of Danilo Gallinari, giving the visitors 14 seconds to win or tie.

Yet Curry, who had been stellar the entire fourth quarter, lost the ball while trying to find space against the defending Gallo:

Two free throws from Gary Harris appeared to seal the result at 111-107, but Klay Thompson nailed a very quick three-pointer to make it a one-point game with three seconds on the clock. Gallinari then split free throws after a quick foul, which offered the Warriors another chance to win or tie. But Thompson's tough look from the corner could only draw iron:

The Nuggets' win registers as their second impressive showing against the Warriors this season after a narrow overtime loss on January 2 that included a big comeback after a re-injury of Curry's left shin. While their split is at least partially due to the luck of facing Golden State without one of its All-NBA candidates, Denver has proven to be a difficult matchup due to a high energy level at both ends. They took advantage of a defense left without Green's game-changing versatility and switching ability to force fouls and go 33-of-37 from the line, including an absurd 17-of-19 for Gallinari (28 points). Green's defense was also sorely missed in the final minutes, when the Nuggets were able to execute their way into open looks for the likes of Darrell Arthur (18 points on 8-of-11 FG and 11 rebounds) and Will Barton (21 points on 7-of-11 FG). Denver shot only 42.5 percent from the field and 5-of-22 from deep, but they worked their way into a win.

It was arguably only close late due to the excellence of Curry, who scored 20 points in the final 6:01 of the fourth for his sixth 20-point period of the season (for reference, that's more than league-leader Russell Westbrook had all of last season). The highlights are magnificent:

Unfortunately for the Warriors, few others were able to make jumpers in the fourth. Several key players finished with quality lines, but this was a game in which the Warriors needed a second man to star or several players to play above their usual levels. Instead, they've merely matched the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the best 39-game start in NBA history. That group also holds three of the best four records of all-time.

The Warriors will look to continue their pursuit of history at Oracle Arena on Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers in Kobe Bryant's final game in Oakland. Although the initial plan was to rest Green for that one, as well, it would not be a shock to see him suit up. After all, the Warriors are now just 2 1/2 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the West's No. 1 seed. It's hard to sit stars when a few slip-ups could mean the difference between homecourt advantage and an uphill climb to the NBA Finals.

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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!