Draymond Green hasn’t sat out a single game this season, and his defensive presence has been a game-changer. The Warriors’ defense ranks fifth in the league, and he’s a big reason why. In 28.5 minutes per game, he’s delivering 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, almost 6 assists, plus a steal and a block. He’s like the unsung hero of your favorite superhero movie—steady, reliable, and always doing the dirty work to keep the team afloat.

But tonight will be the first game that he misses because of left calf tightness. Green’s absence hits the Warriors hard, especially considering how much he contributes to their success on both ends. One of his toughest tasks? Defending Nikola Jokic.

Nobody truly shuts down the three-time MVP, but the Warriors’ floor general always steps up, making him grind for every bucket. It’s like watching a player willingly guard LeBron James in his Miami Heat days—an impossible job, but someone’s got to try.

Green’s numbers against the Nuggets in his last ten games are impressive: 9.2 points, 8.3 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. He shot 54.7% from the field and 38.1% from three, which is no small feat. But despite these solid stats, his record over that stretch is a basic 6-4. It’s like putting up a triple-double but still losing the game—his individual success hasn’t been enough to lead GSW past Denver.

Fans are a bit worried as no one else can contain Jokic.

Nikola Jokic is the cause of concern with Draymond Green out for the Dub Nation

One user wrote “Sad news”. The Warriors are in for a tough battle, especially since the Nuggets have been nearly unstoppable at home in recent years. Playing in Denver has been a nightmare for most teams, and it’s not getting any easier any time soon. Honestly, the altitude alone feels like an extra defender, and the Nuggets know how to use that advantage.

Without Green, the Warriors need to plan for Jokic. If they don’t, well this user said it the best, “Jokic 50 bomb incoming”. In his last 10 games against the Warriors, Nikola Jokic has been a nightmare, averaging 30.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. Seriously, the numbers are ridiculous—they’re basically video game stats! And these stats are with Green playing, so who knows, maybe he’ll drop 50 tonight.

Another netizen also has a bold, wait, not bold, but now it’s kind of very much possible. They wrote, “Jokic triple double”. He has achieved a triple-double against the Mavs, the Heat, and, after tonight, probably the Warriors too. He had 5 straight triple-doubles this season! He’s also the favorite to win the MVP. So another triple-double is incoming?

“Ducking joker rofl.shameless” said one user. Why wouldn’t they?

Because the last time Draymond Green went up against Nikola Jokic, it did not end well. Let me jog your memory.

They went head-to-head for just over seven minutes, during which the Serb dropped 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He also handed out six assists without turning the ball over and missed three of his four attempts from beyond the arc. By the time it was all said and done, Jokic delivered a jaw-dropping triple-double: 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 16 assists.

So who’s going to guard the Joker?

This netizen has a suggestion, “Looney will get his minutes?”. Maybe, but Kyle Anderson took on the toughest defensive task for the Timberwolves last season, spending more time guarding Jokic than anyone else. Even Rudy Gobert, the guy with four Defensive Player of the Year trophies, didn’t log as many minutes on the Joker. Over just 13 minutes across four regular-season games, Jokic dropped 35 points, shooting 11-of-20 from the field, as Anderson guarded him. He gave up three turnovers and had only one assist in that span.

So, let us know your predictions for the Nuggets-Warriors blockbuster below!