The Denver Nuggets, missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, pulled off a 114-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
Aaron Gordon delivered a season-best 38 points on 14-for-23 shooting, leading the short-handed Nuggets (44-25) to a road victory. Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 16 assists, and 12 rebounds, helping Denver secure its fourth win in five games.
Golden State (39-29) saw its seven-game winning streak snapped despite Jimmy Butler’s 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The Warriors dropped to 14-3 since Butler’s debut on February 8 and 14-2 in games he has played.
Stephen Curry managed 20 points and seven assists but struggled from deep, shooting just 4-for-14 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green had 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists, becoming the sixth player in franchise history to reach 6,000 career rebounds.
Michael Porter Jr. contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for Denver, while Peyton Watson added 13 points. The Nuggets shot 46.7% from the field and held Golden State to just 24.2% from three-point range.
Denver built a double-digit lead early as the Warriors missed 13 of their first 14 three-point attempts. Golden State cut the deficit in the fourth quarter, but Westbrook hit a crucial three-pointer in the final minutes to seal the win.
Gary Payton II provided a spark off the bench with 18 points, three steals, and an alley-oop connection with Butler in the second quarter. Jonathan Kuminga added 13 points and four assists.
