The Golden State Warriors closed on a decisive run Sunday night to defeat the Denver Nuggets 128-117 at Chase Center, snapping a two-game skid despite being severely short-handed.
Golden State improved to 29-27, while Denver fell to 36-21 after failing to build on its recent momentum in the Western Conference race.
Brandin Podziemski delivered the defining stretch of the night, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
The guard finished 7-of-16 from the field and added 15 rebounds and nine assists, posting a team-best plus-19 in 37 minutes.
The Warriors closed the game on a 19-8 run, fueled by Podziemski’s pair of 3-pointers and a put-back that halted Denver’s push.
Al Horford provided early and late perimeter pressure, knocking down six 3-pointers on 6-of-7 shooting from deep and finishing with 22 points and seven assists.
Golden State shot 51% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, hitting 21 threes on 52 attempts.
The home team also recorded 42 assists on 48 made field goals, a reflection of its ball movement without Stephen Curry (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL) and Draymond Green (back), who was a late scratch.
Moses Moody led the starting unit with 23 points and seven rebounds, while De’Anthony Melton added 20 points and four steals.
Gui Santos contributed 17 points and seven assists, helping stabilize the offense from the forward spot.
Denver entered the game coming off a 54-point win over Portland on Friday but never led in the first half.
The Nuggets trailed 76-67 at halftime, with Nikola Jokic sitting one assist shy of a triple-double at the break.
Jokic finished with 35 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists on 11-of-21 shooting. It marked his fifth triple-double in seven games, his 19th of the season and the 183rd of his career.
Jamal Murray scored 21 points, and Christian Braun added 18 on 7-of-11 shooting.
The visitors shot 46% overall but struggled from 3-point range, converting just 8-of-31 attempts.
Despite 25 assists and 25 made free throws, Denver could not contain Golden State’s spacing in the final minutes.
The Warriors controlled the glass evenly at 44 rebounds apiece but generated 35 defensive boards that allowed them to push in transition.
The Nuggets will host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Golden State travels to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday as it looks to build on a win that reshaped its momentum in the West playoff picture.
