Jokic, Nuggets Crush Warriors 129-104 as Curry Misses Game/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Denver Nuggets continued their home dominance with a 129-104 blowout win over the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry. Nikola Jokic came within one rebound and one assist of a triple-double. Denver remains unbeaten at home and improves to 6-1 overall.
The Denver Nuggets delivered a commanding performance Friday night, rolling over the Golden State Warriors 129-104 at Ball Arena. With Stephen Curry sidelined for the second consecutive game due to illness, the Warriors struggled to keep pace, dropping their fifth straight road contest.
Nikola Jokic was once again the engine for the Nuggets, finishing with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists — just one shy in each category from securing what would have been his sixth triple-double of the season. Jokic’s efficiency allowed him to sit out the entire fourth quarter, a testament to Denver’s dominance throughout the night.
Jamal Murray added 23 points, providing a potent scoring punch alongside Jokic. His back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter sparked a decisive run after the Warriors pulled within one point at 32-31 during a Jokic rest period. Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with a three-pointer as well, capping a 34-18 run that sent Denver into halftime with a comfortable 66-49 lead.
By the end of the third quarter, Denver had stretched its lead to 99-77, allowing head coach Michael Malone to rest his starters for the remainder of the game. The victory marks Denver’s third straight win on their current four-game homestand and boosts their record to 6-1 overall.
Golden State entered the game short-handed, most notably without two-time MVP Stephen Curry. The superstar missed his second straight game with an illness. Coach Steve Kerr said before the game that Curry was “feeling a little better” and that they were hopeful for his return on Sunday against Indiana. Kerr noted he had only texted with Curry during his recovery.
Without Curry, the Warriors were unable to generate consistent offense or hold momentum, despite the return of veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. Green scored 17 points and Butler added 16, but the Warriors’ lack of floor leadership was evident as they struggled to respond to Denver’s scoring runs.
The matchup also held significance for the NBA’s new in-season tournament — the NBA Cup. This was Denver’s second tournament game after an initial loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on October 31. With this win, the Nuggets stay alive in West Group C, improving their standing in the round-robin phase.
For Golden State, this was their first NBA Cup appearance. The Warriors will now host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in their next cup contest, while the Nuggets close out their homestand Saturday night, also against the Pacers.
The Nuggets have proven tough to beat at home, now sitting 5-0 at Ball Arena this season. Their ability to dominate even with Jokic on the bench highlights the growing depth and versatility of this championship-caliber roster. Meanwhile, the Warriors must find answers — especially if Curry remains unavailable — as they continue to skid on the road and try to make their mark in the NBA Cup.
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