Warriors fall apart without Curry as Jokic steals the show

Resilience and talent perfectly define the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. Both are recent champions, rightful ones, in this whirlwind era of the NBA that has seen seven different teams lift the trophy in the past seven years—each picking up the remnants of what was once the league’s last true dynasty, the one from San Francisco. After that run, the Warriors won in 2022 and the Nuggets in 2023. And since their titles, another similarity: neither has managed to climb back to contender status, a recurring pattern among recent champions. It’s a curse that doesn’t seem to apply to the soaring Oklahoma City Thunder.

Curry: age demands rest

The Ball Arena, perched high in Denver’s Mile High altitude, was the stage for what should have been a clash of titans—two franchises defined by excellence and led by two generational stars: Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry. Jokic, the best player in the world over the past five years, continues to drag along a team that looks little like the one that won the title, playing more minutes and carrying more weight as he nears 31. Curry, at 37, remains the face of a franchise far removed from the one that captured four championships, reached six Finals, and rewrote the record books. But age demands rest, and he sat this one out—a decision that all but conceded the game before tipoff.

Warriors fail to put up a fight

And that’s how it played out: no fight, no resistance. The Nuggets rolled 129–104. The first quarter (32–21) set the tone, and the Warriors dropped every period after that. Denver, feeding off its home crowd, led by as many as 28 and finished up 25, dominating in transition (15 fast-break points) and forcing 12 turnovers. They shot over 56 percent from the field and nearly 50 percent from three, piling up 34 assists to just 8 turnovers. Six players scored in double figures in a selfless offensive display that shredded an undermanned Warriors squad missing not only Curry but also Jackson Rowe, Alex Toohey, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton. Steve Kerr’s Warriors have long accepted sacrificing games like this one—and that’s exactly what happened.

Jokic guides the Nuggets to an easy win

Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points (12-for-15 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, guiding Denver to an easy win and once again making production look effortless. Six Nuggets scored in double digits, with Jamal Murray adding 23 points (8-for-12, 5-for-7 from deep) and 8 assists as the perfect partner in their familiar duo—though Jokic’s brilliance remains on another level. For Golden State, Draymond Green led the way with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, trying to hold things together and mask the collapse. A comfortable night for one side, a forgettable one for the other. After all, it’s an 82-game season—and nights like this come with the territory.

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