Programming note: Warriors-Nuggets coverage starts tonight at 5pm with Warriors Pregame Live on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
The Warriors on Wednesday will seek their eighth consecutive win, a task made more difficult by the absence of power forward Draymond Green.
With the famously restless power forward taking an actual rest, interim Warriors coach Luke Walton likely will summon Harrison Barnes to replace Green in the starting lineup against the Nuggets at Pepsi Center.
The Warriors are playing their fourth game in a stretch in which they play five in seven nights. Walton indicated the team would consider “rest options” for several players, with Green being the No. 1 priority.
[POOLE: Draymond 'pretty beat up,' will not play against Nuggets]
The Warriors (36-2) and Nuggets (14-24) have met twice this season, with the defending champions posting double-digit victories in both games.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 9.5.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Brandon Rush and Harrison Barnes vs. Danilo Gallinari. Finally healthy, Gallinari is back to putting up solid offensive numbers, averaging 25.8 points over the last five games. He can go inside but is particularly dangerous firing from deep. Though he’s Denver’s most dangerous scorer, he’s not much of a defender and that’s something all the Warriors forwards should be able to exploit.
LAST 10
Warriors: 9-1.
Nuggets: 3-7.
INJURY LIST
Warriors: F Draymond Green (rest, R ankle sprain) and F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) are listed as out.
Nuggets: F Wilson Chandler (R hip surgery) is listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors have won six of the last seven, including the last four in a row.
QUOTABLE
“They’ve got some good bigs and their guards get up to play us for sure. It’s always hard in this league . . . when you beat a team a few times. These guys have pride too. They’re all professionals. They’re not going to roll over.” – Interim Warriors coach Luke Walton on the Nuggets
