DENVER — The Denver Nuggets turned a close game into a rout Sunday night, using a dominant second half and a strong performance from the bench to beat the Golden State Warriors 116-93.
Denver improved to 48-28 and remained in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Warriors, playing without Stephen Curry, led 53-46 at halftime and kept the game competitive through the opening two quarters. But the Nuggets flipped the game after the break, outscoring Golden State by 30 in the second half and pulling away behind a balanced offensive effort.
Nikola Jokic once again led Denver with 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Jamal Murray added 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Nuggets took control late.
The biggest difference came from Denver’s bench.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 points, while Bruce Brown added 15 as the Nuggets closed the third quarter on a 19-5 run and never looked back. For a second unit that has faced questions at times this season, Sunday’s performance offered another encouraging sign as Denver approaches the postseason.
The Nuggets also won without forward Aaron Gordon, who was held out of the game. Even without one of their key starters, Denver extended its winning streak to six and continued to strengthen its playoff position in the West.
Denver was efficient throughout the night, shooting 19 of 40 from 3-point range and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. That offensive sharpness, combined with the bench production, helped the Nuggets overwhelm Golden State after halftime.
The win also continued a strong recent stretch for Denver, which will now have two days off before traveling to Utah for a rematch against the Jazz. The Nuggets beat the Jazz 135-129 on Friday behind 30-point performances from Jokic and Murray.
If Denver is going to make another deep postseason run, performances like Sunday’s from the bench could prove critical. Against Golden State, the Nuggets got exactly that.
