The Golden State Warriors delivered a commanding 118-104 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, extending their win streak to five games and pushing the defending champions further into a late-season slump. After pulling ahead with a double-digit lead in the third quarter, the Warriors never looked back, keeping the Nuggets at bay and denying them any chance at a comeback.
For Denver, the loss marked their third straight, coming on the heels of tough defeats against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs. Frustration was visibly boiling over, and it reached a breaking point in the fourth quarter.
Cameras caught Nikola Jokic – normally stoic and measured – seated on the bench, visibly frustrated and throwing what appeared to be a verbal outburst directed at his teammates. While the audio wasn’t picked up, the reigning MVP’s body language spoke volumes about the team’s internal tension.
Nuggets slide in standings while Warriors surge
With this latest defeat, the Nuggets saw their grip on the Western Conference standings loosen. They fell from the third seed to fourth, now sitting at 37-31 on the season. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on the Nuggets’ misstep, sliding into the third seed after their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite the frustration and the loss, Jokic continued to put up superstar numbers. The Serbian center nearly notched another triple-double, finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. But it wasn’t enough to fend off a sharp Golden State squad that has suddenly found its rhythm.
Stephen Curry once again led the charge for the Warriors, scoring a game-high 36 points. Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski stepped up in a major way as well, contributing 26 points in one of his best performances of the season. Golden State’s defense also deserves credit for keeping Denver at bay during key stretches, particularly in the third quarter where they pulled ahead and never let up.
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