Denver, CO—Nikola Jokic delivered a stellar performance with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 119-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Despite falling short of a triple-double by just four assists, Jokic continued his impressive campaign and remains tied with Magic Johnson for the third-most triple-doubles in NBA history, with 138.
Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points to the Nuggets’ effort, while Aaron Gordon contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.
The loss marks Golden State’s fifth consecutive defeat, following a strong 12-3 start to the season. This setback also means the Warriors will head to Houston next week for the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
For Golden State, Steph Curry posted 24 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, though he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 15 three-pointers. Jonathan Kuminga also chipped in with 19 points.
The Warriors were trailing 90-85 going into the final quarter but mounted a 19-4 run to take a 104-94 lead. However, Denver responded with a strong comeback, and Gordon’s pair of free throws with 48 seconds left put the Nuggets ahead for good.
Golden State played without their defensive leader, Draymond Green, who missed the game due to left calf tightness.
Key Takeaways Of The Game:
- Nuggets: Denver extended their regular-season dominance over Golden State, winning their eighth straight game against the Warriors. The Nuggets have now won 11 of the last 12 matchups.
- Warriors: Golden State was missing key defender Draymond Green, sidelined with left calf tightness.
Key Moment Of The Game:
With just 20 seconds left, Jamal Murray made a crucial steal to prevent the Warriors from attempting a potential game-tying or go-ahead shot. This steal led to Jokic’s two free throws, sealing the victory for Denver.
Key Stat Of The Game:
Eight of the last 10 games between the Nuggets and Warriors have been decided by six points or fewer, showcasing the competitiveness of their matchups.
Up Next:
The Nuggets will travel to Cleveland on Thursday night, while the Warriors return home to host Houston the same evening.
