The Warriors trailed by six with four minutes left before a 10-2 run decided the game.
It was the kind of finish the Chase Center crowd has come to expect in meetings between these two teams. Denver controlled long stretches of the night, but Golden State found more energy and better shots when it mattered most, and a late three-pointer swung the game in their favour.
How the game unfolded
Neither side managed to pull clear in the first half. The Nuggets were patient in the half court, worked the ball through their big man at the elbow and punished every late rotation with cuts to the basket. The Warriors answered with quick ball movement and transition points.
Denver looked the more composed team through the third quarter. They kept their turnovers low, won the battle on the offensive glass and built a lead that stayed between four and eight points for most of the period.
The fourth quarter followed a similar pattern until the final minutes. With four minutes left the Warriors were six points down, and the visitors seemed to have done enough to take the win back to Colorado.
The decisive run
Golden State changed the game with a 10-2 run. Their defence forced two empty possessions in a row, and their shooters finally found space on the perimeter. The late three that gave them the lead brought the arena to its feet.
Denver still had chances to respond, but a hurried jump shot and a missed free throw left them chasing. The Warriors made their free throws in the closing seconds to finish with a 112-108 win.
Replays showed how much the run depended on defensive effort. The Warriors closed out on shooters, rotated quickly behind the play and secured the rebounds that had escaped them earlier in the quarter. Each stop turned into a fast attack before Denver could set its defence.
What made the difference
Small details settled a game that was close for 48 minutes. The Warriors were sharper in the final stretch, while the Nuggets lost some of the discipline that had carried them through the third quarter.
- Late-game defence: Golden State switched more aggressively and contested every shot in the last four minutes.
- Shot selection: the Warriors moved the ball until they found open looks, while Denver settled for contested jumpers.
- Free throws: the home side converted their attempts in the final seconds; the visitors missed a key one.
- Crowd and momentum: once the run started, the home team fed off the atmosphere in the arena.
The head coach of the Warriors praised the team’s defensive effort after the game, pointing to the stops that made the comeback possible. The Nuggets’ staff said their team had played well for most of the night but did not execute in the final minutes.
Numbers and context
The result was a small surprise for the betting markets. Denver had gone into the game as slight favourites at 1.75, with Golden State priced at 2.10 despite playing at home. As always, prices describe likelihood rather than certainty, and betting is only for adults aged 18 and over.
| Warriors | Nuggets | |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 112 | 108 |
| Pre-game odds | 2.10 | 1.75 |
| Margin with four minutes left | -6 | +6 |
| Closing run | 10 | 2 |
In the early standings both teams sit among the leading group in the West, with Denver just ahead of Golden State. Wins against direct rivals carry extra weight, as they can decide tie-breakers when the playoff picture takes shape in the spring.
What comes next
For the Warriors, the win is a confidence boost after a tight night against one of the strongest teams in the conference. Their ability to close games has been a talking point this season, and this comeback will strengthen the belief inside the locker room.
Their next challenge is to repeat that level from the opening tip. Falling behind against strong opponents is risky, and not every comeback will end in a win.
Denver will look back on missed chances. A six-point lead with four minutes to go should usually be enough, and the coaching staff will want to review the late possessions closely before their next game.
