Game Details
WHO: Brooklyn Nets (6-6) at Golden State Warriors (10-2)
WHEN: Saturday, November 10th, 2018 @ 5:30 p.m. PST
WHERE: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
WATCH: NBCSBA, YES Network
LISTEN: 95.7 The Game
BUDDY BLOG: Nets Daily
Injuries
Warriors: Stephen Curry (strained groin), Shaun Livingston (foot injury), Draymond Green (toe strain), DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles rehab), out
Nets: DeMarre Carroll (ankle surgery) day-to-day. Treveon Graham (hamstring strain), out.
A little over a week ago, the world champion Golden State Warriors visited the Brooklyn Nets on the second night of a back-to-back. The champs cruised through the first three quarters behind Steph Curry’s long-distance pyrotechnics, but needed a mighty Kevin Durant fourth quarter performance to slam the door on a late offensive barrage from the Nets. The Dubs’ flexed their muscle, and the Nets showed their heart.
Now, the Warriors are suffering from nagging injuries to key contributors, including the aforementioned flamethrower Curry, in addition to Olympian Draymond Green and the crafty vet Shaun Livingston. All three of those important weapons will be missing from the Warriors’ arsenal tonight.
No Draymond Green or Shaun Livingston (or Curry) against the Nets either. Green/Livingston getting close, Kerr said.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 9, 2018
After a disjointed, insufficient effort against the rumbling Milwaukee Bucks resulted in the champs’ first home loss of the season, the Warriors will need a spirited showing to protect Roaracle from another pillaging at the hands of an Eastern Conference foe.
The Nets appear to be quietly transitioning out of the “completely irrelevant” bracket and emerging as a fringe playoff contender. At the time of this writing, the Nets are ranked in the top 5 of the NBA in both attempts and shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Any team that shoots that frequently and that accurately from distance is never out of any game; they have a 4-3 record in contests decided by six points or less.
They also have an impact player in DeMarre Carroll returning from ankle surgery. Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson minced no words in describing what the returning Carroll’s impact could be for Brooklyn, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
“Defense has been his forte, that’s been his role in this league. And then obviously his shooting — he’s a really good spot-up shooter. Also end of games, he makes big plays, he makes big shots,” Atkinson said. “But I’d really like to see him give us a boost defensively. And he gives us versatility, right? He can play two, three and four, and that type of player in this league is very important now.”
If Carroll’s feeling healthy, he pairs with budding two-way revelation Caris LeVert to give Brooklyn a rather imposing set of wing defenders.
Gold-Blooded Prediction: The Nets will have to contend with weariness tonight, coming off of a road battle against the Denver Nuggets in the high altitude of Colorado. The wounded Dubs are licking their wounds from their previous loss, and should be in an ornery mood, no matter who suits up.
I’m looking for Alfonzo McKinnie to have his greatest game yet as a Warrior!
Warriors 113, Nets 108