Denver hosted Golden State at Ball Arena on March 29, 2026, and the Nuggets closed the game with a 116-93 win. The result was the denver nuggets vs golden state warriors match player stats storyline of the night, built around a dominant second half from the home team.
Denver entered the game at 48-28 and sitting fourth in the Western Conference, while Golden State came in at 36-38 and clinging to the tenth spot in the West. Golden State played without Stephen Curry for a 25th straight game, and Denver was missing Aaron Gordon after he woke up with calf soreness on game day.
The Nuggets also lost reserve wing Spencer Jones to hamstring tightness in the first half, and starter Cameron Johnson left in the third quarter holding his ribs. Denver used a 40-21 third quarter to turn a seven point halftime deficit into a lead it never gave back.
Match Overview
The Nuggets extended their win streak to six games with a wire-to-wire third and fourth quarter surge after trailing at the break. Golden State led for most of the first half before Denver’s defense and bench production took over after the intermission.
| Category | Details |
| Date | March 29, 2026 |
| Venue | Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado |
| Competition | NBA Regular Season |
| Final Score | Denver Nuggets 116, Golden State Warriors 93 |
| Nuggets Record | 48-28 |
| Warriors Record | 36-39 |
Pre-Match Context
Denver arrived at this game riding a five game win streak and holding the fourth seed in the Western Conference, two games clear of Minnesota and Houston. The Nuggets were already without Aaron Gordon, who had missed 44 games this season with separate hamstring injuries, and he was ruled out again after calf soreness surfaced on the morning of the game.
Golden State, meanwhile, was fighting to hold a play-in position in the tenth spot. The Warriors had lost 16 of their previous 25 games with Curry sidelined by a right knee issue, and they were also without Jimmy Butler for a torn right ACL and Al Horford, who did not travel with the active roster for this game.
With both rotations shorthanded, bench scoring became a bigger factor than usual, and it tilted heavily toward Denver by the final buzzer.
Quarter by Quarter Score
| Quarter | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors |
| Q1 | 23 | 28 |
| Q2 | 23 | 25 |
| Q3 | 40 | 21 |
| Q4 | 30 | 19 |
| Final | 116 | 93 |
Q1
Golden State opened faster, using early buckets from Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis to take a 28-23 lead after the first quarter. Nikola Jokic scored seven points in the period to keep Denver within striking distance despite the slower start.
Q2
Golden State pushed the lead further behind Brandin Podziemski and Porzingis, building a run that stretched the margin before Denver settled in. The Warriors led 53-46 at halftime, with Jokic one assist short of a triple-double heading into the break.
Q3
Denver flipped the game with a 40-21 third quarter. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 10 points off the bench in the period, and the Nuggets outscored Golden State by 19 points to take an 86-74 lead into the fourth quarter.
Q4
Denver kept control in the fourth, outscoring Golden State 30-19 to close out the 116-93 win. Jamal Murray and Bruce Brown combined for 14 points in the period as the Nuggets pulled away for good.
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors |
| Field Goal % | 50.0% (43-86) | 42.2% (35-83) |
| Three-Point % | 47.5% (19-40) | 33.3% (14-42) |
| Free Throw % | 91.7% (11-12) | 81.8% (9-11) |
| Total Rebounds | 40 | 41 |
| Assists | 31 | 29 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 15 |
| Steals | 11 | 9 |
| Bench Points | 43 | 25 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
Denver’s shooting efficiency and bench scoring were the two clearest factors in the final margin. The numbers below outline where the game was won and lost.
- Denver shot 47.5% from three-point range compared to 33.3% for Golden State.
- The Nuggets bench outscored the Warriors bench 43-25, led by Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.
- Denver committed 12 turnovers against 15 for Golden State, protecting extra possessions.
- The Nuggets outscored Golden State 40-21 in the third quarter alone.
- Golden State led by as many as 13 points before Denver’s second half turnaround.
Full Box Score – Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, falling two assists short of his fifth straight triple-double. Jamal Murray added 20 points, and the Nuggets bench provided a major lift with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown combining for 31 points.
Scoring and Shooting
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT |
| Nikola Jokic | 36:08 | 25 | 10-20 | 4-8 |
| Jamal Murray | 34:27 | 20 | 7-12 | 2-4 |
| Christian Braun | 32:49 | 12 | 5-8 | 0-3 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 26:07 | 16 | 5-10 | 4-8 |
| Bruce Brown | 24:41 | 15 | 6-11 | 3-4 |
| Peyton Watson | 22:16 | 10 | 3-11 | 2-5 |
| Julian Strawther | 17:38 | 7 | 3-7 | 1-3 |
| Cameron Johnson | 19:08 | 6 | 2-5 | 2-4 |
| DaRon Holmes | 1:56 | 5 | 2-2 | 1-1 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 7:56 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Rebounding and Playmaking
| Player | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
| Nikola Jokic | 15 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Jamal Murray | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Christian Braun | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Bruce Brown | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Peyton Watson | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Julian Strawther | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Johnson | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Full Box Score – Golden State Warriors
Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis each scored 23 points to lead Golden State, but the Warriors could not match Denver’s second half output. Draymond Green added 13 points and eight assists in his return to the starting lineup against his former team’s rival.
Scoring and Shooting
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT |
| Brandin Podziemski | 31:45 | 23 | 8-14 | 5-8 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | 28:39 | 23 | 8-14 | 5-5 |
| Draymond Green | 29:33 | 13 | 5-11 | 2-7 |
| Gary Payton II | 20:59 | 16 | 7-8 | 1-2 |
| Gui Santos | 32:31 | 9 | 3-9 | 1-4 |
| Pat Spencer | 24:10 | 7 | 3-9 | 0-4 |
| De’Anthony Melton | 25:20 | 0 | 0-5 | 0-3 |
| LJ Cryer | 16:01 | 0 | 0-6 | 0-6 |
Rebounding and Playmaking
| Player | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
| Brandin Podziemski | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Draymond Green | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Gary Payton II | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gui Santos | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Pat Spencer | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| De’Anthony Melton | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Nikola Jokic anchored Denver’s win with 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, missing his fifth straight triple-double by two assists. Jamal Murray backed him up with 20 points and seven assists.
Off Denver’s bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three, and Bruce Brown added 15 points. For Golden State, Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis each finished with 23 points, while Gary Payton II provided an efficient 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in a reserve role.
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver | 25 | 15 | 8 |
| Jamal Murray | Denver | 20 | 6 | 7 |
| Brandin Podziemski | Golden State | 23 | 5 | 2 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Golden State | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Denver | 16 | 3 | 2 |
| Gary Payton II | Golden State | 16 | 5 | 1 |
Starting Lineups
| Position | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors |
| PG | Jamal Murray | De’Anthony Melton |
| SG | Christian Braun | Brandin Podziemski |
| SF | Peyton Watson | Gui Santos |
| PF | Cameron Johnson | Draymond Green |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Kristaps Porzingis |
Injury Report
Absences shaped the rotation on both sides, with Golden State missing three regular contributors and Denver playing without its starting power forward.
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | Right knee | Out |
| Jimmy Butler (GSW) | Torn right ACL | Out |
| Al Horford (GSW) | Not specified | Out |
| Aaron Gordon (DEN) | Calf soreness | Out |
| David Roddy (DEN) | Not specified | Out |
| KJ Simpson (DEN) | Not specified | Out |
| Spencer Jones (DEN) | Hamstring tightness | Left game |
| Cameron Johnson (DEN) | Left rib area | Left game early |
Golden State’s absences left the Warriors thin at guard and forward, forcing extra minutes onto Podziemski, Porzingis and Green. Denver’s injuries to Gordon, Spencer Jones and Cameron Johnson pushed Hardaway Jr., Brown and Strawther into larger roles, which paid off in the second half scoring gap.
Season Series and Head to Head
Golden State won the first two meetings between these teams this season before Denver took the third matchup in this game.
| Date | Result | Score |
| October 23, 2025 | Golden State win | Warriors 137, Nuggets 131 |
| February 22, 2026 | Golden State win | Warriors 128, Nuggets 117 |
| March 29, 2026 | Denver win | Nuggets 116, Warriors 93 |
Conference Standings
Denver sat fourth in the Western Conference at 48-28, while Golden State entered the game at 36-38 and holding the tenth and final play-in position in the West.
| Team | Record | Conference Rank |
| Denver Nuggets | 48-28 | 4th (West) |
| Golden State Warriors | 36-39 | 10th (West) |
Broadcast and Stream Information
| Network | Streaming | Announcers |
| NBC | Peacock, Telemundo | Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Caitlin Clark, Tracy McGrady |
Conclusion
Denver’s win over Golden State kept the Nuggets rolling as they push for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, while the Warriors continue to navigate life without Stephen Curry in the lineup.
The third quarter defined the outcome, as Denver’s defense and three-point shooting flipped a seven point deficit into a double-digit cushion. Denver next travels to face Utah, while Golden State returns home to host San Antonio as it tries to hold its play-in spot in the season’s final stretch.
FAQ
Who won the Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors game on March 29, 2026?
The Denver Nuggets won 116-93 at Ball Arena, extending their winning streak to six games in a row.
How many points did Nikola Jokic score against the Warriors?
Nikola Jokic scored 25 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out eight assists, missing a triple-double by two assists.
Was Stephen Curry available for this game?
Stephen Curry did not play due to a right knee issue, marking his 25th consecutive missed game for Golden State.
What turned the game in Denver’s favor?
Denver used a 40-21 third quarter to erase a seven point halftime deficit and take control of the game for good.
How did the bench units compare in this game?
Denver’s bench outscored Golden State’s bench 43-25, led by Tim Hardaway Jr. with 16 points and Bruce Brown with 15.
Where did the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors rank before this game?
Denver was fourth in the Western Conference at 48-28, while Golden State was tenth at 36-38 entering the matchup.
Who led Golden State in scoring in the loss?
Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis each scored 23 points, the top marks for the Warriors in the defeat.
