Warriors 84 - 123 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Nuggets, Warriors conclude home-and-home set

Apr 9, 2012 - 3:13 PM (Sports Network) - The playoff-hopeful Denver Nuggets will try to salvage the back end of home-and-home set with the Golden State Warriors when the two teams square off at Pepsi Center on Monday.

The Warriors took the front end in Oakland on Saturday when Brandon Rush scored 20 points and David Lee had 17 and nine rebounds as Golden State easily handled the Nuggets, 112-97.

Klay Thompson added 15 points and Nate Robinson scored 14 for the Warriors, who won for just the second time in their last nine games. Golden State coach Mark Jackson was especially impressed with how his charges defended throughout the night.

"More importantly we defended," he said. "That's a tough team to defend, but we did the job across the board. On the offensive end, guys came up big, especially our bench."

Ty Lawson scored 21 points to lead Denver and Al Harrington chipped in 19.

Despite the setback the Nuggets remained eighth in the Western Conference playoff race but are just a game ahead of Phoenix and 1 1/2 clear of Utah with 10 games left on the schedule.

"The idea is we need to string some games together simply for our playoff position and hopes," Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo said, who scored 13 of his 16 points on Saturday in the first quarter.

Denver could get a boost tonight with the return of forward Danilo Gallinari. The Italian star, who is averaging 15.2 points per game this season and has missed the past 10 contests with a fractured left thumb, will be a game-time decision.

The status of swingman Wilson Chandler, who has missed four games with a strained groin, remains up in the air, however. Chandler is still listed as doubtful but is scheduled to meet with doctors before the game on Monday.

Denver has won eight of its past 11 meetings with the Warriors but all three of the Golden State wins over that span have come in the last four matchups.

The Warriors will be trying to sweep the season series over the Nuggets tonight for the first time since the 2002-03 season.






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