The Denver Nuggets continued their late-season surge Sunday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 116-93 at Ball Arena to secure their sixth consecutive victory.
Nikola Jokic finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, falling two assists short of a fifth straight triple-double while controlling the game on both ends of the floor.
Denver improved to 48-28 and strengthened its hold on fourth place in the Western Conference, moving two games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets.
Jamal Murray added 20 points and seven assists, helping Denver maintain offensive balance against a Golden State lineup missing Stephen Curry for the 25th consecutive game due to a right knee issue.
Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis led the Warriors with 23 points each, providing most of the scoring for a team that struggled to maintain momentum after halftime.
Golden State dropped to 36-39 and remains in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, holding a play-in tournament spot despite losing 16 of the 25 games Curry has missed.
The Warriors controlled stretches of the first half, using a 19-2 run in the second quarter to build a 13-point lead.
Golden State carried a 53-46 advantage into halftime as Denver struggled to find consistent rhythm offensively.
The Nuggets responded with their most productive quarter of the night after the break.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 10 points in the third quarter as Denver outscored Golden State 40-21 to seize control of the game.
Jokic anchored the run by orchestrating the offense through the post and high elbow, repeatedly creating open looks for teammates.
Denver finished the night shooting 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range, connecting on 19 of 40 attempts from deep.
Hardaway contributed 16 points off the bench while Bruce Brown added 15, providing key scoring during the decisive second-half push.
Christian Braun scored 12 points and Peyton Watson added 10 as the Nuggets placed five players in double figures.
The game featured several physical moments in the second quarter when Denver’s Zeke Nnaji became involved in an altercation with De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II.
Later in the period Payton received a Flagrant 1 foul after a hard hit on Peyton Watson, increasing the tension between the teams.
Denver also dealt with multiple injury concerns during the game.
Aaron Gordon was ruled out earlier in the day with calf soreness, while Spencer Jones exited in the first half with hamstring tightness.
Cameron Johnson briefly left in the third quarter holding his ribs but returned to the bench with his torso wrapped and did not re-enter the game.
Despite the setbacks, Denver maintained control throughout the final quarter and steadily expanded the margin.
Golden State shot 42 percent from the field and committed 13 turnovers, limiting its ability to mount a second-half comeback.
The Warriors will return home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. Denver continues its road schedule Wednesday with a matchup against the Utah Jazz.
