Nuggets Vs Warriors: Podziemski’s 12-Point flurry lifts shorthanded Golden State to 128-117 win
SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski scored 12 of his 18 points in the final five minutes and the Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 128-117 on Sunday in a game that mattered because the Warriors were missing multiple stars. The nuggets vs warriors matchup ended with Golden State snapping a two-game skid while Denver saw Nikola Jokic record another dominant triple-double.
Brandin Podziemski’s closing burst
Podziemski finished 7-of-16 from the floor with 18 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, delivering the decisive knockout sequence in the final five minutes. His pair of 3s and a put-back spearheaded a late push that turned a tight finish into a 128-117 final. The Warriors closed the contest on a 19-8 run, a span that Podziemski helped carry alongside veteran support.
Al Horford’s shooting at Chase Center
Al Horford hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points and seven assists, igniting the Chase Center crowd early and again during the late run. Horford had 11 points in the first quarter, drilling two triples to give Golden State an immediate lead and helping the starters build a 39-27 margin after the opening frame. By halftime the Warriors had made 15 threes and set their season high for first-half scoring.
Nikola Jokic’s 25-20-12 triple-double
Nikola Jokic recorded 25 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists for Denver, marking his fifth triple-double in seven games, his 19th of the season and the 183rd of his career. Despite that output, Denver never led in the first half and only mounted a second-half push before the Warriors’ game-ending run. At one point in the second quarter Jokic was one assist shy of a triple-double before halftime.
Nuggets Vs Warriors: lineup changes and injuries shaped the game
The aftermath of injuries and illness framed the contest. Golden State was without Stephen Curry (knee) for a seventh straight game and missing Jimmy Butler III (torn right ACL). Draymond Green was a late scratch with a lower back injury after the team announced minutes before tip that he would not play. Recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porziņģis was listed sick and did not make it to the arena; coach Steve Kerr indicated the illness could be serious and that Porziņģis may not join the Warriors on their upcoming two-city road trip. Denver was missing Aaron Gordon but was otherwise healthy for the 36-21 Nuggets.
Supporting performances and game flow
Moses Moody scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds while De’Anthony Melton added 20 for Golden State. For Denver, Jamal Murray scored 21, Christian Braun had 18 and Bruce Brown contributed 12. Golden State’s starting five of Pat Spencer, De’Anthony Melton, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Al Horford opened aggressively, using ball movement and 3-point shooting to jump to an 11-2 advantage and a 39-27 first-quarter lead; the Warriors were 9-for-19 from three in that opening period.
Sequence, stakes and next steps
Denver had come off a 54-point win over Portland on the previous Friday but could not lead in the first half here, falling behind 76-67 at intermission. The Nuggets chipped away in the second half, but Golden State held firm and finished with a 19-8 closing run. The result ends the Warriors’ two-game losing streak and hands Denver a setback after recent success; Denver had won three of five entering this matchup. The Nuggets will host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, and the Warriors travel to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
What makes this notable is how a largely reserve-laden Warriors roster — without Curry, Green, Butler and the sidelined Porziņģis — combined veteran shooting, depth scoring and a late stretch performance from a young rotation player to overcome a historically productive opponent in Jokic. The injuries and illness forced Golden State into an unconventional lineup, and that change directly shaped both the early 3-point barrage and the closing minutes that decided the game.
