The Golden State Warriors are in a position to send the Denver Nuggets home for the playoffs with a win on Thursday night in California and after the physical play in Game 5 that some saw as dirty, both teams are ready to get back it as the series shifts to Oracle Arena.
Coaches Mark Jackson and George Karl went back and forth in the media about the physical play and dirty tactics, with the Nuggets mostly saying they did nothing dirty and that it was all just physical play. Jackson saw things differently, especially when it comes to star Stephen Curry, who Jackson felt was targeted by the Nuggets due to an ankle injury sustained in Game 2. Curry has been excellent for the Warriors, but he has struggled over the past couple games.
The Warriors have a 3-2 advantage over the Nuggets, but Denver appears to have the momentum after the 107-100 win on Tuesday at the Pepsi Center. Denver was expected to win the series easily after winning 57 games, including losing just three at home, during the regular season, but it was the Warriors who started out fast, taking a 3-1 lead on the Nuggets before dropping the last game after winning three in arrow. The Nuggets started off fierce in Game 5 and never trailed and the team played hard on Curry, keeping him to just one long-range shot for the game.
The Warriors will get a boost from their home crowd, as they have consistently been one of the loudest in the NBA and they would like to finish the series in California before shifting back to Denver for a deciding game seven if needed. Curry did not get to the line in 42 minutes of play in Game 5 despite the physical play and Jackson said there was "inside information" about the physical style of play by the Nuggets.
Curry has been ailing since Game 2 when he sprained his left ankle and it has been hard for him to be as explosive through the next set of games.
