
OAKLAND – The Warriors miss Steve Kerr and they want him back. Moreover, their effort Tuesday night suggested they need him.
The defending champions were a bit too casual – especially on defense – in taking a 114-103 preseason loss to Denver on Tuesday. The Warriors started well but lost their rhythm and became by turns sloppy and lethargic.
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Suddenly, the Nuggets were playing with more energy and verve. And interim coach Luke Walton – who admits his preseason focus is not to pursue victory but to analyze matchups and establish good habits – appeared bereft of answers.
Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Leandro Barbosa’s 16 off the bench. Draymond Green finished with 15, Stephen Curry with 14, Marreese Speights with 11 and Andre Iguodala had 10.
The Warriors were outrebounded 48-43 and outshot 49.5 percent to 40.2 percent. Denver shot 50 percent through the first three quarters, piling 92 points.
OF NOTE:
Forward Harrison Barnes left the game with 5:38 in the second quarter after sustaining sprained right knee. He did not return and an update on his status is expected on Wednesday.
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[RELATED: Barnes sprains right knee in loss to Nuggets]
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Curry looked good early and Barbosa looked sprightly throughout.
Curry shot 4-of-6 from the floor in the first quarter but 1-of-7 the rest of the way.
Barbosa shot 5-of-8 from the floor and finished 5-of-6 from the line.
TURNING POINT:
After the Warriors took a 53-45 lead on a Speights layup with 6:11 left in the second quarter, the Nuggets reeled off an 18-3 run to take a 63-56 lead with 1:43 left in the half.
The Warriors spent the rest of the evening trying to catch up and never did, trailing by as much as 17 early in the fourth quarter.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors – F Harrison Barnes (sprained R knee) left in the second quarter. F Kevin Looney (R hip surgery) was listed as out and did not play.
Nuggets – G Randy Foye (L hamstring strain), F Darrell Arthur (R knee bone bruise), C Jusuf Nurkic (L patellar tendon repair) and C Oleksiy Pecherov (R soleus strain) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Warriors are scheduled to hold an open practice Wednesday night at Oracle, and then play host to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.