Game ID: 22401125
Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 34 32 30 22 118DEN 44 16 24 20 104
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 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Curry missed 2 since 3/22, returns tonight: 34 min (104% of 32)
BACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restBACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 32 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Post 15 to 21 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 2 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
GSW availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 3 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
NEW Moody 21 to 28 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/04 · back-to-backOUT Payton II missed 4 since 3/28, returns tonight: 2 min (14% of 15)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 15)
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 32)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restBACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 32)
BACK Payton II back 4/04 after 4, 2 min since (14% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restBACK Payton II back 4/04 after 4, 11 min since (74% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/09 · back-to-backBACK Payton II back 4/04 after 4, 11 min since (74% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Post missed 2 since 4/08, returns tonight: 16 min (101% of 15)
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 4/08, returns tonight: 14 min (93% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 6 min since (41% of 15)
DEN availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 5 since 3/17, returns tonight: 38 min (102% of 37)
OUT Strawther missed 12 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 13 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 35 min since (95% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 35 min since (301% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 13 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 14 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 38 min since (102% of 37)
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 24 min since (210% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/01 · 3 days' restOUT Strawther missed 14 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 15 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 35 min since (93% of 37)
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 21 min since (183% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 2 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 15 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 16 since 3/02, returns tonight: 8 min (57% of 13)
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 41 min since (109% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 18 min since (156% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 33 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 41 min (122% of 33)
OUT Strawther missed 16 since 3/05, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 20)
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 41 min since (109% of 37)
BACK Šarić back 4/02 after 16, 8 min since (57% of 13)
NEW Watson 23 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Jordan 12 to 17 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 40 min since (107% of 37)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 41 min since (122% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 1 min since (5% of 20)
BACK Šarić back 4/02 after 16, 8 min since (57% of 13)
NEW Watson 23 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 40 min since (119% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 6 min since (29% of 20)
NEW Watson 23 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/28, returns tonight: 32 min (85% of 37)
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 38 min since (115% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 8 min since (38% of 20)
NEW Braun 35 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW Gordon 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Watson 23 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 4/06, returns tonight: 6 min (63% of 10)
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 6, 32 min since (85% of 37)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 8 min since (38% of 20)
NEW Gordon 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 31 and Podziemski at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Payton II (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 42 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (3 straight), Porter Jr. (2 straight), Strawther (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 111 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Golden State 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
3/28 @ NOP 111-95 — GSW notes
GSW won 111-95. GSW shot 41% (38 of 92) to NOP's 41%, 13 of 55 from three. GSW turned it over 10 times to NOP's 15. Curry led with 23 (7 of 21, 5 of 16 from three); Butler III added 18, Kuminga 16. The hinge was Q4, 28-13: a lead of 1 became 16. GSW trailed 50-53 at the half and won the second half 61-42. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/30 @ SAS 148-106 — GSW notes
GSW won 148-106. GSW shot 58% (56 of 97) to SAS's 48%, 21 of 44 from three. GSW turned it over 12 times to SAS's 21. The glass went 44-34 for them. Podziemski led with 27 (9 of 14, 7 of 9 from three); Moody added 20, Hield 19. The hinge was Q1, 44-27: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 47. Hield was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
4/01 @ MEM 134-125 — GSW notes
GSW won 134-125. GSW shot 42% (42 of 99) to MEM's 48%, 22 of 56 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MEM's 22 — 28 points from the stripe to their 19. GSW turned it over 11 times to MEM's 16. Curry led with 52 (16 of 31, 12 of 20 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Butler III added 27, Green 13. The hinge was Q1, 45-32: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Curry was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/03 @ LAL 123-116 — GSW notes
GSW won 123-116. GSW shot 48% (39 of 82) to LAL's 45%, 19 of 42 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAL's 23 — 26 points from the stripe to their 20. GSW turned it over 13 times to LAL's 8. Curry led with 37 (10 of 21, 4 of 11 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Podziemski added 28, Kuminga 18. The hinge was Q2, 34-25: a lead of 4 became 13, and the lead reached 16. Kuminga was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
4/04 vs DEN 118-104 — GSW notes
GSW won 118-104. GSW shot 49% (43 of 88) to DEN's 54%, 16 of 38 from three. GSW turned it over 13 times to DEN's 25. Curry led with 36 (13 of 24, 7 of 15 from three); Podziemski added 26, Butler III 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-16: GSW came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 17. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/06 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Podziemski at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 24 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 14 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-14 a night and Golden State plus-5. Call it Golden State 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
4/08 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 128, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Allen at 11 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Plumlee (3 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Podziemski at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 111 a night to Phoenix's 128 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-4 a night and Phoenix minus-5. Call it Golden State 120, Phoenix 112.
4/09 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 31 and Podziemski at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Barnes at 22 and Castle at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the line, where Golden State takes 24 free throws a game to San Antonio's 17. Call it Golden State 118, San Antonio 110.
4/11 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Avdija at 32 and Sharpe at 29 a game. Without Simons (5 straight), Grant (15 straight), Avdija (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Podziemski at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Post (2 straight), Payton II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 39 percent from three to Portland's 30 and the defense, Golden State allowing 107 a night to Portland's 115. Call it Golden State 114, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.
3/26 vs MIL 127-117 — DEN notes
DEN won 127-117. DEN shot 54% (49 of 90) to MIL's 52%, 16 of 37 from three, and went to the line 22 times to MIL's 13 — 13 points from the stripe to their 9. Jokić led with 39 (16 of 25, 3 of 6 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); M. Porter Jr. added 23, Braun 19. The hinge was Q1, 38-27: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Watson was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/28 vs UTA 129-93 — DEN notes
DEN won 129-93. DEN shot 58% (48 of 83) to UTA's 35%, 11 of 29 from three. Jokić led with 27 (8 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Porter Jr. added 20, Westbrook 17. The hinge was Q4, 43-28: a lead of 21 became 36, and the lead reached 41. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
4/01 vs MIN 139-140 — DEN notes
DEN lost 139-140 in 2 overtimes. DEN shot 55% (47 of 86) to MIN's 47%, 12 of 34 from three, and went to the line 44 times to MIN's 25 — 33 points from the stripe to their 17. Jokić led with 61 (18 of 29, 6 of 11 from three, 19 of 24 at the line); Gordon added 30, Braun 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-26, but the other 5 periods went 114-107 against them. They led by as many as 16.
4/02 vs SAS 106-113 — DEN notes
DEN lost 106-113. DEN shot 40% (38 of 96) to SAS's 44%, 13 of 44 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAS's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. Westbrook led with 30 (11 of 25, 3 of 10 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Tyson added 18, Pickett 17. Q3 was theirs, 31-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 91-75 against them. Jones's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 @ GSW 104-118 — DEN notes
DEN lost 104-118. DEN shot 54% (40 of 74) to GSW's 49%, 12 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 25 times to GSW's 13, and GSW turned those into 14 steals. Jokić led with 33 (13 of 17, 4 of 7 from three); Porter Jr. added 23, Braun 16. Q1 was theirs, 44-34, but the other 3 periods went 84-60 against them. They led by as many as 12. Porter Jr.'s -13 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 40 and Porter Jr. at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Murray (4 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Turner at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (71 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 10 and the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Denver's 37. Call it Denver 119, Indiana 118, Indiana keeping it close.
4/09 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 29 and LaVine at 29 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 40 and Braun at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Murray (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Denver's 33. Call it Sacramento 119, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
4/11 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 39 and Braun at 22 a game. Without Murray (6 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Morant at 32 and Bane at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 39 percent from three to Denver's 33. Call it Denver 120, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.
4/13 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Braun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Denver's 31 and the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Houston's 17. Call it Houston 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWBH B. Hield
BP B. Podziemski
DG D. Green
GP G. Payton II
GS G. Santos
JB J. Butler III
JK J. Kuminga
KK K. Knox II
KL K. Looney
MM M. Moody
QP Q. Post
SC S. Curry
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
HT H. Tyson
JP J. Pickett
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
VČ V. Čančar
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
Stephen Curry scores 36 points as Warriors beat Nuggets 118-104 for fifth straight win
SAN FRANCISCO -- — Stephen Curry scored 36 points and the Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 118-104 on Friday night for their fifth straight win.
Brandin Podziemski added 26 and Jimmy Butler III had 19 for the Warriors. They pulled within a half-game of the Nuggets, who began play third in the Western Conference.
The Warriors built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and maintained it the rest of the way. A 3-pointer by Curry midway through the quarter gave Golden State a 15-point lead, and he also completed a three-point play with under three minutes to play to keep the lead at 15.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 33 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, after finishing with 61 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the last game he played.
Curry had 19 points at halftime as Golden State led 66-60.
The Nuggets were without Jamal Murray (hamstring), but the rest of the starters returned after sitting out Wednesday night’s loss to the Spurs.
Takeaways Nuggets: Without Murray, the Nuggets have lost three straight and fell to the Warriors for the first time in nine games in a potential first-round playoff preview.
Warriors: The Warriors, after beating the Lakers on Thursday, returned home following a 4-2 road trip with a huge win.
Key moment The Warriors improved to 21-5 since trading for Butler, who opened the fourth with a tough 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, then knocked down two free throws following a Nuggets turnover to give the Warriors a 17-point lead.
Key stat Curry has averaged 41.7 points over his last three games, after putting up 37 and 52 points in his prior two games.
Up next Both teams play on Sunday, with the Warriors hosting the Rockets and the Nuggets hosting the Pacers.