NBA: Nuggets win 6th straight, sink Warriors with big 3rd quarter

The Denver Nuggets staged a dominant second-half comeback to defeat the Golden State Warriors, 116-93, on Sunday night in Denver, extending their winning streak to six games.

Nikola Jokic led the way with 25 points and 15 rebounds, anchoring Denver’s strong interior presence. Jamal Murray added 20 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the second half. Bruce Brown contributed 15 points, with Christian Braun and Peyton Watson adding 12 and 10, respectively, for Denver (48-28).

Golden State (36-39) was led by Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis, who each scored 23 points. Gary Payton II chipped in 16, while Draymond Green added 13. The Warriors continued to struggle without Stephen Curry, who missed his 25th straight game due to right knee soreness. Gui Santos grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.

The Warriors came out strong in the second quarter, using a 19-2 run to build a 47-34 lead after hitting seven consecutive shots. However, Denver responded before halftime, trimming the deficit to 53-46.

The turning point came in the third quarter, where the Nuggets erupted offensively. Jokic sparked the rally with a step-back three-pointer, and Hardaway Jr.’s four-point play gave Denver its first lead since early in the game at 62-61. Although Golden State briefly regained a four-point edge, Denver answered with a 14-3 run to seize control.

Despite a late push from the Warriors, including a key basket from Porzingis, the Nuggets closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take an 86-74 lead. Denver outscored Golden State 40-21 in the period, effectively putting the game out of reach.

In the fourth quarter, Murray extended the lead with a three-pointer, and Hardaway Jr. added another from beyond the arc to keep momentum firmly on Denver’s side. Podziemski briefly kept the Warriors within striking distance with his fifth three-pointer, but the Nuggets maintained control and pulled away late.

Denver played without Aaron Gordon, who sat out due to calf soreness. The team also dealt with in-game injuries as Spencer Jones exited in the first quarter with right hamstring tightness, while Cameron Johnson left in the third quarter holding his ribs. Neither player returned.

With the victory, the Nuggets strengthened their position in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Warriors’ struggles continued amid ongoing injury concerns. -Field Level Media/Reuters