The Golden State Warriors got off to an ideal start to the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The Warriors secured a series lead in a convincing 123-107 Game 1 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

 

With their second straight game at home, the Warriors have an excellent chance to go up 2-0 in the series. It will be up to the Nuggets to make adjustments in Game 2, but it may not even matter with this Warriors team beginning to click the right way now that they're mostly healthy.

Let's look at three bold Warriors predictions for Game 2 against Denver.

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Warriors predictions for Game 2 vs. Nuggets

Steph Curry Returns to Superstar Level for 30+ Points

It was The Jordan Poole Show in Game 1 as the third-year player exploded for 30 points and shot 5-7 on 3-point attempts. His impressive play drove the team toward victory and opened more eyes to how good he really is. The skillful play of Poole, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins were enough to secure the win in Game 1, however, the Warriors team will not hit its full potential without Steph Curry returning to full force.

The two-time MVP was forced to miss the final 12 regular-season games for the Warriors due to a sprained foot. Curry made his return to the lineup in Game 1. Due to his missed time, the Warriors superstar came off the bench and tallied just 22 minutes. The Warriors played well and there was no need to push Curry, so they stuck to the minutes limit he is starting out on.

The gravity of Steph Curry was still incredibly impactful as the Warriors outscored the Nuggets by 17 in his 22 minutes, but he failed to fully find his stride in his first game minutes since the injury. Curry ended with 16 points and four assists on 5-of-13 shooting. If the Nuggets can keep this game close, a more effective Steph Curry could be needed. Look for the eight-time All-Star to shake some rust off and make more of an impact in Game 2.

New-Look Warriors “Death Lineup” will be Put on Display

Gone are the days of Kevin Durant lining up alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. The Splash Brothers may have found their new triplet as the emergence of Jordan Poole has been extremely exciting. This should not be a surprise as Poole has continually improved since being drafted in 2019. The Michigan product took a massive leap this season and increased his scoring average to 18.5 points per game.

With Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole all healthy and active, it creates some serious issues for opposing defenses. The elite shotmaking the lineup possesses is nearly impossible to match up with. Look for the three of them to share to court together during Game 2 and stretch the Nuggets' defense. These three threats may not only be the key to this Nuggets series, but the Warriors' playoff identity moving forward.

The two-man combo of Steph Curry and Jordan Poole proved especially impactful during the regular season with the Warriors, outscoring teams by 13.2 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. There has not been enough time to look at the trio of Curry, Poole, and Thompson, but it has the early signs of a new “Death Lineup” for Golden State, with Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins joining the group to destroy opponents.

Warriors Will Shoot 40+ Three-Pointers and 8+ More than the Nuggets

The Golden State Warriors have proved to be one of the most influential franchises due to their innovation beyond the 3-point arc. There has never been a team to capitalize on these deep shots like the Warriors in recent years. Look for them to get back to their roots and unleash a vast amount of long-range attempts.

In Game 1, the Warriors and Nuggets each attempted 35 3-pointers. This is slightly below the Warriors' average of 39.3 3-point attempts per game this season. It will be a losing battle if the Nuggets attempt to keep pace with the Warriors by launching long-range shots with the same frequency. Golden State ranked sixth in the NBA in team 3-point percentage, while Denver was 17th in this category. The Warriors will welcome this challenge if the Nuggets attempt to prioritize shots from beyond the arc as well. It seems more likely that Golden State will unleash from deep in a way that Denver will be incapable of keeping up with.

There have been a variety of injuries to Golden State this season, preventing them from playing at full strength. With the team back together, look for them to fully find their identity. The Warriors are building their case as legitimate contenders and this starts beyond the 3-point arc. Expect an uptick in tempo and for this to be emphasized in Game 2.