DENVER — The Golden State Warriors vs Nuggets wrapped up their run against struggling opponents on Sunday night, and with it, their three-game winning streak came to an end.
Despite building a 13-point advantage at Ball Arena, the injury-hit Warriors were unable to maintain their edge against the Denver Nuggets, ultimately falling 116-93. Victories earlier in the week over the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, and Washington Wizards had given Golden State some momentum, but that progress unraveled in a second half where they were outscored 70-40. The team was without key players like Stephen Curry, Al Horford, and Will Richard.
Kristaps Porzingis and Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points each, both hitting five shots from beyond the arc. Draymond Green contributed 13 points along with eight assists. With a 36-39 record, Golden State slipped deeper into 10th place in the Western Conference, now trailing the Portland Trail Blazers by 1.5 games for potential play-in home-court advantage.
For Denver, Nikola Jokic delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, while Jamal Murray added 20 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
Warriors vs Nuggets: Complete 2026 NBA Showdown Analysis
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pointed out a recurring issue: the team starts strong but struggles to sustain its level of play, especially with injuries limiting depth and scoring options. He emphasized the need to keep competing despite these challenges.
A major turning point came in the third quarter, where Golden State surrendered a 53-46 halftime lead by losing the period 40-21. Since Curry’s last appearance, the team has posted the league’s worst third-quarter net rating. Gary Payton II noted that lapses in focus have been costly, especially against stronger opponents Warriors vs Nuggets…Read more
Green played a key role early, helping the Warriors vs Nuggets take control in the first half with scoring and defense against Jokic, as Golden State converted nine turnovers into 10 points. Porzingis also sparked a 19-2 run with efficient shooting, while strong ball movement led to 18 assists on 21 first-half field goals.
However, Denver found its rhythm after halftime, taking control with an 86-74 lead entering the fourth quarter. Jokic scored 10 points in the third and helped open up perimeter opportunities, as the Nuggets shot efficiently and capitalized on Golden State’s offensive struggles.
Podziemski acknowledged that facing a strong team on the road without a full roster requires near-perfect execution — something the Warriors failed to achieve.
Golden State couldn’t mount a comeback in the final quarter as Denver dictated the tempo. The Warriors vs Nuggets will return to Chase Center for upcoming games against the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Adding to their concerns, backup center Quinten Post exited in the second quarter with right foot soreness and was later seen in a walking boot. He had already missed three previous games with the same issue.
Quick Notes:
The Warriors vs Nuggets have now dropped 11 of their last 14 games against Denver and suffered their 13th loss this season after holding a double-digit lead. They are 2-10 when scoring under 100 points and 9-16 in games without Curry. Porzingis also reached a milestone, hitting his 1,000th career three-pointer, becoming the 185th player in NBA history to do so. Meanwhile, Podziemski has recorded 20 or more points in four consecutive games, and Seth Curry returned to action after a seven-game absence due to injury…Read more
