Nikola Jokic carries Nuggets past Warriors in NBA Cup

Nikola Jokic had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, Jamal Murray finished with 23 points and eight assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Golden State Warriors 129-104 in the West Group C NBA Cup play on Friday night.

Aaron Gordon contributed 18 points, Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 points, Christian Braun had 12 and Peyton Watson 10 for Denver, which is 1-1 in pool play.

Golden State played without Steph Curry for the second straight game due to an illness but got Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III back after a one-game absence. Al Horford (left foot) also didn't play.

Green had 17 points and made a season-high five 3-pointers while Butler finished with 16 points. Quinten Post scored 14 points, Will Richard had 12 points and Pat Spencer 10 for the Warriors, who played their first NBA Cup game.

Green hit a 3-pointer to open the game to give Golden State the early lead, but that was the last time it was in front.

The Nuggets went up by 14 late in the first quarter before the Warriors made a run. They cut the deficit to 11 after the first and scored the first 10 points of the second to get within 32-31.

Denver responded with a flurry to take back control. Murray hit two 3-pointers, Valanciunas drained his first from deep, made a turnaround hook and then capped a 19-2 run with another 3-pointer that gave the Nuggets a 51-34 lead.

Murray kept the offense humming with two more from behind the arc on his way to 16 points in the period. Denver was ahead by as much as 19 before taking a 66-49 advantage into halftime.

Green tried to keep Golden State close with two more 3-pointers to get within 71-60 but the Nuggets again opened the advantage.

Jokic hit a cutting layup, Gordon threw down a thunderous dunk and Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a jumper to make it 83-66. Denver closed the period strong to lead 99-77 heading into the fourth and led by as much as 28 in the final 12 minutes.

--Field Level Media