Game ID: 22300478
Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 33 30 44 20 127DEN 34 36 24 36 130
DEN @ GSW ScoutingDEN @ GSW Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
GSW availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 6 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Wiggins missed 2 since 12/22, returns tonight: 29 min (107% of 27)
OUT Payton II missed 11 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 12/19 after 4, 8 min since (68% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 12/22 after 14, 6 min since (57% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 22 min over the last 4
GSW availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Green missed 7 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 12 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 2 min (20% of 11)
BACK Wiggins back 12/25 after 2, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK Joseph back 12/19 after 4, 8 min since (68% of 11)
GSW availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 8 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 13 since 11/30, returns tonight: 9 min (60% of 16)
BACK Wiggins back 12/25 after 2, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Joseph back 12/19 after 4, 6 min since (56% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 12/22 after 14, 4 min since (38% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 22 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/02 · 2 days' restOUT Green missed 9 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/25 after 2, 28 min since (102% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 12/30 after 13, 9 min since (60% of 16)
BACK Quinones back 12/22 after 14, 4 min since (38% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 22 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 10 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Moody missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/25 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 12/30 after 13, 10 min since (64% of 16)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 22 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Green missed 11 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Moody missed 3 since 12/30, returns tonight: 6 min (32% of 18)
OUT Joseph missed 3 since 12/30, returns tonight: 9 min (75% of 11)
OUT Quinones missed 3 since 12/30, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/25 after 2, 26 min since (97% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 12/30 after 13, 10 min since (64% of 16)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 12 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 4 since 12/30, returns tonight: 6 min (61% of 11)
BACK Moody back 1/05 after 3, 6 min since (32% of 18)
BACK Joseph back 1/05 after 3, 9 min since (75% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Green missed 13 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Moody back 1/05 after 3, 14 min since (78% of 18)
BACK Joseph back 1/05 after 3, 12 min since (101% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 1/07 after 4, 6 min since (61% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 14 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Paul missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Moody back 1/05 after 3, 17 min since (99% of 18)
BACK Joseph back 1/05 after 3, 13 min since (118% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 1/07 after 4, 7 min since (67% of 11)
NEW Jackson-Davis 17 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 30 min since (94% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 6 min since (56% of 11)
DEN availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 12/20, returns tonight: 18 min (122% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 12 min (116% of 11)
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 31 min since (98% of 32)
DEN availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backBACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 18 min since (122% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 9 min since (86% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 25 min (76% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 11 min since (98% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/04 · 2 days' restBACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 25 min since (76% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/28 after 2, 13 min since (119% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 10 min (69% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 1/01, returns tonight: 21 min (194% of 11)
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 15 min since (99% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 21 min since (194% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 14 min since (132% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Wiggins at 14 a game. Without Green (10 straight), Moody (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Jokić at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to Golden State's 117 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to Golden State's 34. Call it Denver 115, Golden State 113, Golden State keeping it close.
12/25 @ DEN 114-120 — GSW notes
GSW lost 114-120. GSW shot 46% (40 of 87) to DEN's 49%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line 23 times to DEN's 32. Wiggins led with 22 (7 of 11, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Curry added 18, Šarić 14. Q2 was theirs, 28-24, turning a 3-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 96-86 against them. Curry's -26 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs MIA 102-114 — GSW notes
GSW lost 102-114. GSW shot 42% (37 of 88) to MIA's 48%, 8 of 33 from three. GSW turned it over 13 times to MIA's 7. Curry led with 13 (3 of 15, 2 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 13, Wiggins 11. Q1 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 92-77 against them. Thompson's -26 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 vs DAL 122-132 — GSW notes
GSW lost 122-132. GSW took 15 more shots (103 to 88), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to DAL's 56%, 19 of 48 from three, and got to the line 13 times to DAL's 22. Curry led with 25 (9 of 25, 6 of 15 from three); Paul added 24, Jackson-Davis 17. Q4 was theirs, 33-31, the deficit cut from 12 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 101-89 against them. Paul's -10 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs ORL 121-115 — GSW notes
GSW won 121-115. GSW shot 54% (42 of 78) to ORL's 45%, 13 of 35 from three, and went to the line 37 times to ORL's 23 — 24 points from the stripe to their 19. GSW turned it over 12 times to ORL's 17. Curry led with 36 (12 of 20, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Kuminga added 19, Thompson 15. The hinge was Q3, 32-26: from level to 6 ahead. Curry was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/04 vs DEN 127-130 — GSW notes
GSW lost 127-130. GSW shot 54% (49 of 90) to DEN's 56%, 15 of 36 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 29. Curry led with 30 (11 of 23, 5 of 12 from three); Thompson added 24, Kuminga 16. Q3 was theirs, 44-24, turning a 7-point deficit into a 13-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 106-83 against them. They led by as many as 18. Wiggins's -14 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Kuminga at 15 a game. Without Green (11 straight), Moody (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 133, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Cunningham at 28 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Stewart (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-7 a night and Golden State minus-2 and the defense, Golden State allowing 122 a night to Detroit's 133. Call it Golden State 123, Detroit 118.
1/07 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 15 a game. Without Green (12 straight), Payton II (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Siakam at 28 and Barnes at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Dick (5 straight), Freeman-Liberty (33 straight), Young (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Toronto takes 28 free throws a game to Golden State's 23 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-0 a night and Toronto minus-4. Call it Golden State 119, Toronto 118, Toronto keeping it close.
1/10 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Thompson at 17 a game. Without Green (13 straight), Payton II (3 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 47 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Williamson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Golden State's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-11 a night and Golden State minus-0. Call it New Orleans 117, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
1/12 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; White at 24 and DeRozan at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Craig (12 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Thompson at 19 a game. Without Green (14 straight), Paul (2 straight), Payton II (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 110 a night to Golden State's 126. Call it Chicago 117, Golden State 112.
12/25 vs GSW 120-114 — DEN notes
DEN won 120-114. DEN shot 49% (40 of 82) to GSW's 46%, 14 of 34 from three, and went to the line 32 times to GSW's 23 — 26 points from the stripe to their 20. Murray led with 28 (10 of 18, 3 of 5 from three); Jokić added 26, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q3, 39-35: DEN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 3. DEN trailed 53-54 at the half and won the second half 67-60. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/28 vs MEM 142-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 142-105. DEN shot 57% (55 of 96) to MEM's 42%, 20 of 41 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MEM's 25. The glass went 53-36 for them. Jokić led with 26 (11 of 11); Murray added 23, Watson 20. The hinge was Q4, 36-22: a lead of 23 became 37. Watson was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/29 vs OKC 93-119 — DEN notes
DEN lost 93-119. DEN shot 42% (36 of 85) to OKC's 51%, 10 of 37 from three. DEN turned it over 16 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 36-51 against them. Jokić led with 19 (9 of 10); Watson added 14, Porter Jr. 12. Q2 was theirs, 21-21, but the other 3 periods went 98-72 against them. Murray's -20 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 vs CHA 111-93 — DEN notes
DEN won 111-93. DEN shot 49% (41 of 83) to CHA's 42%, 15 of 38 from three. Murray led with 25 (7 of 16, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 22, Jackson 15. The hinge was Q3, 40-17: from level to 23 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/04 @ GSW 130-127 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-127. DEN shot 56% (48 of 85) to GSW's 54%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 29 times to GSW's 16 — 25 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 34 (13 of 16, 6 of 7 at the line); Gordon added 30, Murray 25. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: DEN came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 3. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
1/05 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 29 and F. Wagner at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Fultz (26 straight), Ingles (10 straight), Isaac (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 12 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Orlando's 118. Call it Denver 117, Orlando 111.
1/07 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 20 a game. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 132, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Bogdanović at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Stewart (5 straight), Bagley III (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 113 a night to Detroit's 132 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 123, Detroit 114.
1/10 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Clarkson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (7 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (12 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-3 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Utah 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/12 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 46 percent from three to Denver's 36 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-1. Call it Denver 115, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWAW A. Wiggins
BP B. Podziemski
CP C. Paul
DŠ D. Šarić
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
KT K. Thompson
SC S. Curry
SA Saric
TJ T. Jackson-Davis
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
GSW/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Nikola Jokic hits 40-footer at buzzer, Nuggets rally to stun Warriors 130-127
SAN FRANCISCO -- — With three seconds left in a tie game, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone set up Nikola Jokic to be the safety valve on an inbounds pass at the far end. Jamal Murray , the first option, wasn't available up the sideline. Neither was second-choice Kentavious Caldwell-Pope .
Instead, Aaron Gordon got the ball to Jokic, who took three dribbles across halfcourt, stopped and launched a 40-footer over Kevon Looney from the right sideline that banked in as time expired. That gave the Nuggets a stunning 130-127 victory Thursday night after trailing by 18 points in the fourth quarter. They closed with a 25-4 run.
Jokic had 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. He tied it at 127 with a short jumper with 26 seconds left. Golden State's final possession ended with Stephen Curry 's turnover, setting the the stage for Jokic's winner.
Malone said he told Jokic during the timeout to “take two dribbles over halfcourt and shoot."
“And he executed the play to perfection,” Malone said. “But great players make great plays. And Nikola catching the ball and making something happen behind that is just incredible.”
Jokic said he was just trying to “get a little bit closer and just throw it to the basket.”
“I think those shots are the easiest shots to take,” Jokic said. “You don’t have any other option.”
The defending champion Nuggets have won 11 of 13 and six straight on the road. They sent the Warriors — who failed to get back to .500 after snapping a three-game skid Tuesday night — to a 1/3 start on their seven-game homestand.
Golden State has blown several double-digit leads this season.
“These games all come down to the wire, it feels like for us this year,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We've probably lost four or five we should have won.”
Aaron Gordon scored 30 points for Denver, and Jamal Murray had 25. Curry led Golden State with 30 points. Klay Thompson added 24.
“Some are a little bit easier to swallow than others,” Curry said. “This one is definitely tough.”
Nuggets forward Peyton Watson said Jokic's confidence in himself helps the team.
“He’s so poised and he never gets too high or too low,” Watson said. “He’s an even-keel guy. So for him to come up big in these big moments and just to show that he’s calm and poised, he calms everybody else.”
Golden State pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Denver 44-24 after trailing by double-digits early in the half. The Warriors had a 19-6 midway through the quarter, with Brandin Podziemski hitting three corner 3-pointers for a 107-94 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“I think we just didn’t want to give up,” Jokic said. “We could easily have excuses just to lose the game or we have a back-to-back tomorrow ... But the guys didn’t drop their hats. We were really aggressive.”
The Nuggets took a 70-63 lead into halftime, shooting 62% from the field.
Malone said he was most proud of his team responding down big to the Warriors on the road.
“When you get down to this team, it’s very easily drop your head in this building with that crowd,” Malone said. “And that’s probably the thing I was most pleased with tonight is that everybody – coaches, players, we just stayed the course even after that third quarter which they dominated.”
The Warriors were without Draymond Green , suspended indefinitely three weeks ago, for the 11th straight game. ESPN reported Thursday that Green was expected to return to the team facility in the coming days in anticipation of a return, though coach Steve Kerr did not confirm the report before the game.
Golden State will be without Gary Payton II for another extended stretch because of a strained hamstring. The Warriors said Patyon will be re-evaluated in three weeks.