Nuggets win 6th straight, sink Warriors with big 3rd quarter

Nikola Jokic had 25 points and 15 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half and the host Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors 116-93 on Sunday night.

Jamal Murray had 20 points, Bruce Brown scored 15 off the bench, Christian Braun finished with 12 and Peyton Watson scored 10 for Denver (48-28), which has won six in a row.

Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porzingis scored 23 points each, Gary Payton II had 16 points and Draymond Green contributed 13 for Golden State (36-39), which played without Steph Curry for the 25th straight game due to right knee soreness.

Gui Santos added 10 rebounds.

Aaron Gordon sat out for the Nuggets after experiencing calf soreness Sunday morning, and two more players went down during the game.

Spencer Jones left in the first quarter with right hamstring tightness and Cameron Johnson went to the locker room a few minutes into the third quarter holding his left ribs. Neither returned to the game.

The Warriors missed their first three shots of the second quarter but made their next seven to spark a 19-2 run and give them a 47-34 lead. Denver rallied to get within 53-46 at intermission and then went ahead with a big third quarter.

Jokic's step-back three made it 57-55 and Hardaway's four-point play gave the Nuggets a 62-61 lead, their first since midway through the first quarter.

Golden State responded to go back in front by four but Denver went on a 14-3 run to lead 76-69 with 2:12 left in the period.

Porzingis drained a 24-footer to cut the deficit to four again but the Nuggets closed on an 8-0 run to lead 86-74 heading into the fourth. Denver outscored Golden State 40-21 in the third quarter to take control.

Murray's three with 10:09 left gave Denver a 92-77 lead, then the Warriors scored five straight and had a chance to get closer but a layup and Hardaway's fourth 3-pointer restored the 15-point lead.

Podziemski's fifth 3-pointer of the night made it 99-88 but the Nuggets pulled away.

--Field Level Media