Denver Nuggets: One key reaction after tough home loss

The Denver Nuggets collapsed on their home court, falling 142-111 Tuesday to the Golden State Warriors. Where does the squad go from here?

In the old DreamWorks film, Prince of Egypt, a famous Steve Martin song perfectly captures the Denver Nuggets‘ situation. The lyrics center around one key phrase: “You’re playing with the big boys now.”

The Nuggets recently took down Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in a “big boy” matchup at the Pepsi Center. Fans hoped to continue the party Tuesday, as the Golden State Warriors came to town. The hosting squad arrived ready, and the arena was sold out…but, alas, the Warriors had other plans.

Behind 51 points and 10 3-pointers in the opening quarter alone, the Dubs sacked Denver with an enormous offensive ambush. According to ESPN‘s Nick Friedell, this Warriors’ output set an NBA record for first quarter points.

You’re playing with the big boys now.

Things are different this year in the Rocky Mountains. The Nuggets entered Tuesday’s game atop the slippery Western Conference ledge, wearing a sturdy 18-3 home record. No longer are they projected to lose when marquee squads visit the Pepsi Center.

Sure, the Warriors toppled the Nuggets Tuesday. It wasn’t pretty this time around, but very little has changed, nonetheless. One game is nothing compared to the 82 regular season logs needing to be chopped. Denver must employ a very short memory. Backbone, it’s called.

The NBA’s figurehead for shaking off bad games is a recent opponent. Stephen Curry is the king of bounce-back performances. It’s a huge driver of his lavish success, actually.

Let’s examine his bounce-back performances in the past 12 months:

• Curry shot an icy 5-for-19 in a recent January game against the New York Knicks. Next game, he nailed 10-of-16 shots en route to 28 points.
• Steph scored just 15 points in a highly publicized Christmas Day loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Next contest, he tallied 29 points and seven assists to help the Dubs win.
• Curry scored just 10 points in a December loss to the Toronto Raptors. The following game, he returned with 35 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Warriors won on the road.
• Steph scored just 11 points (3-of-16 shooting) in Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals. He returned to tally 37 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks in Game 4’s victory.
• Curry managed just 16 points (1-of-8 3-pt shooting), in the 2018 Western Conference Finals’ Game 2 loss. He came back with 35 points on 13-of-23 shooting, as Golden State won Game 3.

Curry laid the blueprint Denver must follow. He’s shown the journey is more about backbone than perfection. Why not observe his success and learn from it?

Like it or not, this week could be season-hinging for the Nuggets. They look to protect their home court Thursday against the weaker Chicago Bulls. On Saturday, they face the struggling Cleveland Cavilers, also at the Pepsi Center.

Redemption opportunities are constant throughout the rigorous NBA season. Rebounding from this loss is paramount to the second half of Denver’s 2018-19 campaign. If the Nuggets learn from Tuesday and regain their home advantage and spot as the No. 1 team in the West, consider the experience worthwhile.

The NBA roller coaster is conquered only by teams with backbone. Just ask Steph Curry.