Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is double teamed by the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game 1 of the NBA first-round playoff series at Chase Center, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in San Francisco, Calif.
Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney (5) guards Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half during Game 1 of the NBA first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in San Francisco, Calif.
Denver Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic drives towards the basket as Golden State Warriors’ forward Otto Porter Jr. defends during the fourth quarter in Game 1 of a NBA basketball first-round playoff series against in San Francisco, Calif. Saturday, April 16, 2022. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 123-107.
Center Kevon Looney (right) was just one part of the strategy to contain Nikola Jokic.
The Warriors surrendered 25 points to reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in Saturday’s 123-107 victory over the Nuggets in Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs at Chase Center, but he needed 25 shots to get there. Golden State has to see that as an absolute win.
They also limited Jokic to two free throws — excellent work considering he averaged 6.3 free-throw attempts per game this season and shoots them at an 81% clip. The Warriors were able to stifle the Serbian center in Game 1, thanks in large part to strong defensive play from Draymond Green and Kevon Looney and a chaotic game plan that involved them throwing multiple looks at Jokic in his 34 minutes on the court.
“We did a good job switching up coverages, putting different bodies on him and just making him work,” Looney said. “Not sending him to the free-throw line and making everything tough. That’s kind of what our game plan is, just try to mix it up, make him work for every bucket.”
But this is the playoffs and one game rarely tells the story of an entire series. Like the Warriors, the Nuggets will watch video from Saturday’s game and adjust accordingly. Jokic will no doubt see things he could’ve done better.
“He’s the MVP of the NBA for a reason, and he’s possibly the MVP of the NBA again,” Green said.
“I feel like he’s going to try to come in and give me 40 (points), 15 (rebounds) and 15 (assists) next game. So how I feel about that is that he’s pissed off and he’s coming back with vengeance.”
Defending Jokic will be a chess match for the Warriors. Golden State was able to check him in Game 1, but sustained intensity will be key for the Warriors on Monday if they hope to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“As series go on you have to do that anyway,” Green said. “The games get tougher. First game everybody’s kind of feeling their way through. If you can get the win, great, but everybody’s just trying to figure it out. But the intensity, it rises, so everybody has to ramp it up. Not just against Joker, against everyone.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the road to the next round of the playoffs only gets more difficult.
“Denver’s going to come out swinging tomorrow,” he said. “I mean, this is how series generally work. The team that loses Game 1, especially a game like that (Saturday) where things went pretty smoothly for us, the other team, they’re going to come out swinging, they’re going to bring the full force tomorrow.”
Curry’s status: Kerr spoke with Stephen Curry on Sunday and said he’s “doing pretty well” after playing nearly 22 minutes in Game 1. It was Curry’s first game action since suffering a sprained ligament and a bone bruise in his left foot in a March 16 loss to Boston. He scored 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting.
Curry got shots up at Chase Center on Sunday and “should be good to go” for Game 2 on Monday. Kerr didn’t disclose whether Curry will come off the bench again or return to the starting lineup. Kerr’s started Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Green, Looney, and Andrew Wiggins in Game 1.
C.J. Holmes covers the Warriors for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: cj.holmes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @CjHolmes22
C.J. Holmes joined The San Francisco Chronicle after four years at the Athletic, where he covered numerous college and pro teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Villanova, Temple, Saint Joseph's, La Salle and Penn. He's a native of the Washington, D.C., area and developed love for the game of basketball when he was young. C.J. played high school ball at IMG Academy and college ball at Auburn University. He's a movie junkie, comic book lover and a proud Husky dad. He's also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.