The Denver Nuggets wrapped up NBA Cup play tonight with no hope of advancing into the knockout round. Save for the bright yellow court, it was just a standard regular season game against the Golden State Warriors, who already wrapped up the top seed in Group C. To no one’s surprise, Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry led their respective teams in a game that went back and forth throughout. Ultimately it was the good guys who had the last run and secured the win. Denver takes a hard fought W 119-115

Early on Denver got some points through Jamal Murray and had a small lead. Aaron Gordon was also hot from the three point line but the Warriors got easy buckets in the paint and some open threes as well. After Jonathan Kuminga knocked down a three to give the Warriors the lead Michael Malone called timeout. Gordon’s outside shooting kept Denver in the game while the Warriors kept getting all the offensive rebounds and clung to a small lead. The Nuggets defense tightened up and that led to a run late in the quarter. A Peyton Watson three gave them back the lead with three minutes to go. Jokic got an early blow and Malone put Zeke Nnaji in the game to finish the first. Russell Westbrook carried the scoring load for the bench. After one the Nuggets led 33-31.

Curry was hot to open the second. After a couple Nuggets buckets he led a 12-2 run for Golden State to take back the lead and get Jokic up off the bench. ‘It looked like the Warriors of old with the ball zipping around the court and each player taking turns knocking down the open shot. They maintained their run through the meat of the quarter and the lead hit double digits. Jokic settled things back down as the quarter went down the stretch. He led a 12-0 run and just like that it was all tied with a little over a minute to go. Jokic traded threes with Wiggins and at the half the game remained tied at 57 all.

The Nuggets were aggressive to start the second half, highlighted by Murray opening with a huge dunk. Denver also drew plenty of fouls early on. They got a small lead but the Warriors were keeping it close. Jokic went cold from the floor which made Denver’s offense stall out a bit. The Nuggets started getting into the paint wand that paid dividends to keep them in front, for a little while at least. The Warriors responded again while Denver got sloppy again and Golden State tied the game halfway through the quarter. The game continued to go back and forth with the Nuggets forcing turnovers to get easy points. Every time the Nuggets went on a run though the Warriors seemed to have an answer. Back to back threes by Golden State got the Denver lead down to just two with under two minutes left in the third. Jokic carried the Nuggets in the final minutes and after three they led 91-85.

Nikola started the fourth on the bench and Westbrook didn’t have the same mojo he did in the first half to give the Nuggets offense. With Denver struggling to score, the Warriors went on a run and took the lead back. A massive dunk from Jackson Davis put them up four and forced a timeout from Malone. Jokic came back in but the Warriors had all the momentum and continued to grow their lead. It got to double digits just before the halfway point of the fourth. The Nuggets stopped the bleeding there and got the lead back down to five by drawing fouls, often of the and-one variety. Jokic continued to be Denver’s driving force while everything continued to go through Curry on the other end with the game winding down. Golden State stalled out on offense and that let Denver come back to tie with under two minutes to go. Nikola was not going to be denied. He hit a mid-range jumper, blocked a shot by Kuminga and drew a foul to ice the game at the free throw line. Denver wins a rollercoaster 119-115.

Best matchup: Jokic vs Curry

Dec 3, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Steph and Nikola didn’t actually draw each other as defensive assignments but this was a duel between superstars for sure. Each time one of them led their team on a run the other would answer. In the end Nikola had the final run to seal the deal but that’s not without every effort from Curry. He ended up not having the best shooting night but that’s because there was no one else to turn to for scoring. Steph still ends up with twenty-four points and eleven assists. Nikola meanwhile stuffed the stat sheet while being absolutely dominant and willing his team to victory. He scored thirty-eight points, grabbed ten rebounds, handed out six assists and had five steals.

It took a team effort but there can be more

Porter Jr. ends up second on the team in scoring and he had some good moments carrying the offense but it took all of the starters tonight. Nobody was spectacular, and some guys you could even say struggled but it’s a testament to Denver’s starters that even when they aren’t on their best night they can still all score in double figures. As long as you get an MVP night from Jokic, which seems to just be every night no matter what now, then that’s enough to squeak out a win at home. Not exactly confidence inspiring or sustainable but a win’s a win.