DENVER -- For the second consecutive game, the Warriors run into an opponent that experienced the joy of beating them multiple times last season.
Two nights after outlasting the Jazz in Utah, the Warriors on Sunday face the Nuggets at Pepsi Center in Denver. Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for 5:05.
The Warriors and Nuggets split four games last season, with each team winning once on the other team’s home court. The Warriors have won 10 of the last 15 meetings overall but have lost 20 of 27 in Denver.
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The key matchup for the Warriors is at center, where Damian Jones will get the first crack at Nikola Jokic, the highly skilled Nuggets big man who posted a triple-double Saturday night against the Suns.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
G - Stephen Curry G - Klay Thompson F - Kevin Durant F - Draymond Green C - Damian Jones
Golden State Warriors
Nuggets
G - Jamal Murray G - Gary Harris F - Torrey Craig F - Paul Millsap C - Nikola Jokic
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: G Shaun Livingston (left knee contusion) has been ruled out. C DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles tendon surgery rehab) is listed as out.
Nuggets: F Will Barton (R hip injury), F Michael Porter Jr. (back surgery), G Isaiah Thomas (hip surgery rehab) and Jarred Vanderbilt (R foot surgery) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: Iguodala likely will play, in which case the Warriors can anticipate having their usual rotation, with him as the first sub to enter, sometime in the first quarter. . . . Jokic’s comprehensive skills present problems the Warriors will try to solve with multiple defenders.
In addition to Jones, expect to see Kevon Looney and Green and maybe Durant. Jordan Bell also could get a chance. Jokic is the Nugget most likely to take over a game, so the Warriors want to give him a variety of looks.
Nuggets: Barton re-signed with Denver (four years, $53 million), moved into the starting lineup and got hurt in the second game of the season. Coach Michael Malone will have to do some shuffling. Malik Beasley and Craig are capable of filling minutes at small forward.
The question is who gets the start? Craig replaced Barton when the latter left the game on Saturday. . . . Forwards Juancho Hernangomez and Trey Lyles are the most dangerous players off the bench.