Nuggets Pull Away From Warriors 116-93 Behind Jokic

The Denver Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 116-93 on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Ball Arena, turning a halftime deficit into a comfortable home win behind Nikola Jokic, who finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists in another steady all-around performance.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Golden State came out sharp and took a 28-23 lead after one quarter. The Warriors moved the ball well early and found enough perimeter shooting to keep Denver on its heels, while the Nuggets were still working into their offensive rhythm.

Second Quarter

The Warriors added to their lead in the second, outscoring Denver 25-23 to carry a 53-46 advantage into halftime. Golden State continued to get quality contributions across the lineup, and Denver had not yet found the defensive consistency that would define the second half.

Third Quarter

The game turned decisively in the third. Denver outscored Golden State 40-21 in the period, flipping a seven-point halftime deficit into an 86-74 lead entering the fourth. The Nuggets tightened up defensively, moved the ball with much better pace, and connected from deep as Jokic helped organize nearly every important possession.

Fourth Quarter

Denver kept control in the final period and outscored Golden State 30-19 to close out the 23-point win. The Nuggets did not allow the Warriors to make a serious late push, continuing to execute in the half court while their defense held Golden State below 20 points in the quarter.

Key Performers

Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, finishing as the game’s top overall performer. He set the tone in Denver’s comeback and gave the Nuggets a reliable scoring and playmaking hub throughout the night.

As a team, Denver shot 50.0% from the field and 47.5% from three-point range, knocking down 19 of 40 attempts from beyond the arc. The Nuggets also posted 31 assists on 43 made field goals, a strong indicator of how connected their offense looked once they settled in.

Golden State Warriors
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points, while Gui Santos paced the team on the glass with 10 rebounds. Draymond Green added 8 assists as Golden State generated 29 assists overall, but the efficiency dipped sharply after halftime.

NerdSports Stat: Denver trailed by 7 at halftime and still won by 23, meaning the Nuggets swung the game by 30 points over the final two quarters while making 19 threes and holding Golden State to just 40 second-half points.

Game Analysis

This game was defined by Denver’s dramatic shift after halftime. The Nuggets were outscored in both of the first two quarters, but their third-quarter response changed everything. Denver’s offense became far more efficient, and the defensive pressure improved enough to take away the Warriors’ clean looks and transition rhythm.

The numbers underline that difference. Denver finished at 50.0% from the floor compared with Golden State’s 42.2%, and the biggest gap came from three-point range. The Nuggets hit 47.5% from deep, while the Warriors finished at 33.3%. That edge became especially important once Denver began stringing together stops and turning them into quality half-court possessions.

Jokic’s stat line was a major part of the story, but Denver’s team structure stood out just as much. The Nuggets assisted on 31 baskets and committed to their spacing and ball movement in the second half. Golden State stayed competitive on the glass, finishing with a 41-40 rebounding edge, but Denver’s shot-making and offensive organization gave the home side clear control late.

For the Warriors, the first half offered encouraging signs. They led by seven at the break and got solid production from Podziemski, along with playmaking from Green. But the offense stalled in the final two quarters, and a 21-point third quarter was not enough to keep pace once Denver started converting at a higher rate.

Closing Context

With the win, Denver improved to 48-28 and strengthened its position in the Western Conference playoff race, while Golden State dropped to 36-39 and remains under pressure in the crowded postseason picture. For the Nuggets, this was an important home result against a conference opponent and another reminder of how quickly they can take control when Jokic and the supporting cast find their rhythm.

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