Nikola Jokic scored 26 points while Jamal Murray added 23 as the Denver Nuggets rolled past the Golden State Warriors 129-104 on Friday night at Ball Arena. Denver improved to 6-2 overall and 5-0 at home, maintaining a strong position in West Group C of the NBA Cup.
Jokic, who sat out the fourth quarter, finished just one rebound and one assist shy of a triple-double, showcasing his versatility without playing the entire game. Murray sparked a key 34-18 run to end the first half, giving the Nuggets a 66-49 lead at the break.
Jonas Valanciunas contributed seven points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun added 18 and 12 points, respectively. Denver shot 56.1% from the field and 48.5% from three-point range, dominating in efficiency.
The Warriors, playing without Stephen Curry for a second straight game due to illness, struggled to keep pace. Draymond Green scored 17 points and Jimmy Butler added 16, but Golden State fell to 5-5 overall and lost their fifth straight road contest.
Golden State cut the Nuggets’ lead to 32-31 in the second quarter during an 11-0 run, but Murray hit consecutive three-pointers and Valanciunas added another basket to restore control. Jokic and Denver’s bench helped maintain the margin, pushing the lead to 99-77 after three quarters.
This marked Denver’s bounce-back after an opening-night loss to the Warriors on Oct. 31, while Golden State played its first NBA Cup game of the season. Coach Steve Kerr confirmed Curry is expected to return Sunday against the Indiana Pacers.
The Nuggets close their four-game homestand on Saturday against the Pacers, while the Warriors host the same team on Sunday.
