Nikola Jokic dominated the Dubs last season. He averaged 31.3 points, 13 rebounds and 9.8 assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors in the 2023-24 season. Now the Warriors face the three-time MVP without their best front court player.

Thanks to Draymond Green’s sore calf, he will miss the team’s final opening game in the NBC Cup. Coach Steve Kerr is going relatively small with his new starting lineup, using Kevon Looney at center and Jonathan Kuminga at power forward.

There’s no good way to stop Jokic, who is 4th in the NBA in scoring, 2nd in assists and 2nd in rebounding this season. The Warriors decided to pair Jokic with Looney, perhaps to at least counter the Joker’s rebound. They also have Kuminga in Green’s place in the four-man lineup, just in time to face the newly healed Aaron Gordon. Perhaps it’s particularly inspiring for Kuminga to face the biggest dunk contest competitor who has never won a trophy.

Steve Kerr suggested that Kyle Anderson would back up Kuminga at power forward, which could mean more minutes for Pat Spencer as a backup ballhandler. Trayce Jackson-Davis will also be available as a defender or sacrificial lamb against Jokic.

The bright spot in this matchup is that the Nuggets have the fewest three-point attempts in the NBA. For a Warriors team that allows opponents 15.5 three-pointers per game during their four-game losing streak, you can at least expect less volume. Of course, Denver is making these limited threes at a rate of 39%, third in the NBA, which is even better than the 37.8% the Warriors have allowed in their last four games.

It will be difficult to compete against Jokic without Draymond Green, but there is another bright spot. There is virtually no way he can be ejected or suspended again if this happens. But if anyone can do it with a bad leg, it’s Draymond.