Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats: Complete Box Score Breakdown

The Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors match player stats from March 29, 2026 show a decisive 116-93 Nuggets win at Ball Arena, driven by Nikola Jokić’s 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists against a short-handed Warriors team missing Stephen Curry. Kristaps Porziņģis and Brandin Podziemski each scored 23, but Denver’s efficiency, bench production, and third-quarter surge clearly separated the two sides.

All statistics and game details in this article are verified from the official NBA game book and play-by-play for March 29, 2026.

Contents

• Match Information
• Team Leaders at a Glance
• Quarter-By-Quarter Scoring and Runs
• Denver Nuggets Box Score
• Golden State Warriors Box Score
• Four Factors and Advanced Team Stats
• Why Denver Won
• Key Individual Matchups
• 2025–26 Season Series
• Frequently Asked Questions

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Match Information

Detail	Information
Date	Sunday, March 29, 2026
Game type	NBA regular season
Arena	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Attendance	19,588 (sellout)
Officials	Sean Wright, Brian Forte, Tyler Ricks
Final score	Denver Nuggets 116, Golden State Warriors 93
Records entering	Nuggets 47–28; Warriors 36–39

The game was played at altitude in Denver, with the Nuggets aiming to protect home court against a Warriors team managing multiple key absences.

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Team Leaders at a Glance

This quick view highlights the primary stat leaders from the Nuggets vs Warriors match scorecard.

Category	Warriors	Nuggets
Points	Brandin Podziemski / Kristaps Porziņģis — 23	Nikola Jokić — 25
Rebounds	Gui Santos — 10	Nikola Jokić — 15
Assists	Draymond Green / Pat Spencer — 8	Nikola Jokić — 8; Jamal Murray — 7
Steals	De’Anthony Melton / Brandin Podziemski — 2	Jamal Murray / Bruce Brown / Tim Hardaway Jr. — 2
Minutes played	Podziemski — 31:45	Jokić — 36:08
Best plus-minus	Quinten Post — +1	Christian Braun — +17

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Quarter-By-Quarter Scoring and Runs

Quarter	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Warriors	28	25	21	19	93
Nuggets	23	23	40	30	116

• 
  Lead changes: 11
• Ties: 9
• Warriors largest lead: 13 points
• Nuggets largest lead: 23 points

Golden State controlled stretches of the first half, including a major second-quarter run to build a double-digit lead. Denver responded with a dominant third quarter, turning a halftime deficit into a comfortable advantage they extended through the fourth.

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Denver Nuggets Box Score

Starters

Player	MIN	PTS	REB (O–D)	AST	FG	3PT	FT	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Cameron Johnson	19:08	6	1 (0–1)	3	2–5	2–4	0–0	1	1	0	+13
Peyton Watson	22:16	10	6 (2–4)	5	3–11	2–5	2–2	0	1	2	+11
Nikola Jokić	36:08	25	15 (3–12)	8	10–20	4–8	1–1	1	0	2	+16
Christian Braun	32:49	12	3 (0–3)	0	5–8	0–3	2–2	0	0	0	+17
Jamal Murray	34:27	20	6 (0–6)	7	7–12	2–4	4–5	2	1	4	+13

Bench

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	STL	TO	+/-
Tim Hardaway Jr.	26:07	16	3	2	5–10	4–8	2	0	+12
Bruce Brown	24:41	15	1	0	6–11	3–4	2	1	+7
Julian Strawther	17:38	7	2	2	3–7	1–3	0	1	+7
DaRon Holmes II	1:56	5	0	0	2–2	1–1	0	0	+2
Zeke Nnaji	7:56	0	2	0	0–0	0–0	0	0	+12
Jonas Valančiūnas	5:07	0	1	1	0–0	0–0	0	0	+2
Spencer Jones	5:59	0	0	1	0–0	0–0	1	1	–3
Three additional reserves	1:56 each	0	—	—	0–0	0–0	—	—	+2

Team totals:

• 116 points
• 43–86 FG (50.0%)
• 19–40 3PT (47.5%)
• 11–12 FT (91.7%)
• 40 rebounds (6 offensive, 34 defensive)
• 31 assists
• 11 steals
• 4 blocks
• 11 turnovers

Denver’s starting group delivered most of the creation, while the bench supplied efficient shooting and secondary scoring that amplified the starters’ impact.

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Golden State Warriors Box Score

Starters

Player	MIN	PTS	REB (O–D)	AST	FG	3PT	FT	STL	BLK	TO	+/-
Gui Santos	32:31	9	10 (2–8)	3	3–9	1–4	2–2	1	0	4	–12
Draymond Green	29:33	13	4 (0–4)	8	5–11	2–7	1–1	1	0	2	–14
Kristaps Porziņģis	28:39	23	3 (0–3)	2	8–14	5–5	2–2	1	0	2	–15
De’Anthony Melton	25:20	0	1 (0–1)	3	0–5	0–3	0–0	2	0	2	–29
Brandin Podziemski	31:45	23	5 (0–5)	2	8–14	5–8	2–2	2	1	0	–8

Bench

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	STL	TO	+/-
Gary Payton II	20:59	16	5	1	7–8	1–2	0	0	–2
Pat Spencer	24:10	7	5	8	3–9	0–4	2	0	0
LJ Cryer	16:01	0	0	2	0–6	0–6	0	1	–15
Nique Williams	11:24	0	3	0	0–3	0–2	0	1	–3
Malevy Leons	3:55	2	0	0	1–1	0–0	0	0	–5
Quinten Post	4:38	0	2	0	0–1	0–0	0	0	+1
Ömer Yurtseven	3:55	0	2	0	0–1	0–0	0	1	–5
Seth Curry	7:10	0	1	0	0–1	0–1	0	0	–8

Inactive and unavailable:

• Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
• Stephen Curry (right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome; did not play)
• Al Horford (right soleus strain)
• Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery; not with team)
• Will Richard (left heel soreness)

Team totals:

• 93 points
• 35–83 FG (42.2%)
• 14–42 3PT (33.3%)
• 9–11 FT (81.8%)
• 41 rebounds (9 offensive, 32 defensive)
• 29 assists
• 9 steals
• 2 blocks
• 13 turnovers

Golden State’s starters carried most of the scoring load, with Porziņģis and Podziemski combining for nearly half of the team’s points. However, the lack of secondary shot creation and the impact of multiple injuries and absences limited their ability to sustain offensive efficiency.

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Four Factors and Advanced Team Stats

Using standard NBA formulas, both teams’ efficiency metrics can be compared on equal footing.

Metric	Warriors	Nuggets
Effective FG% (eFG%)	50.6%	61.0%
True Shooting % (TS%)	52.9%	63.5%
Turnover %	12.9%	10.8%
Offensive Rebound %	20.9%	15.8%
Free Throw Rate (FTA/FGA)	13.3%	14.0%
Estimated pace (possessions per team)	93.6	93.6
Offensive Rating (points per 100 possessions)	99.4	123.9
Points in the paint	36	36
Fast-break points	11	16
Second-chance points	9	16
Points off turnovers	22	13
Bench points	25	43

Despite Golden State’s edge in offensive rebounding, Denver’s superior shooting — particularly from beyond the arc — and better ball security translated into a much higher offensive rating and ultimately the 23-point win.

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Why Denver Won

Third-Quarter Turnaround

The game pivoted in the third quarter. Denver entered the half trailing but erupted for 40 points in the third while holding Golden State to 21. Better spacing around Jokić, sharper pick-and-roll execution with Murray, and timely three-point shooting from Hardaway Jr. and Brown dramatically improved Denver’s shot quality. Golden State’s offense, by contrast, became more perimeter-heavy and less diverse, leading to lower efficiency despite decent three-point volume.

Bench and Lineup Impact

Denver’s bench outscored the Warriors’ reserves 43–25, a key deciding factor. The Nuggets could maintain offensive pressure even when Jokić or Murray rested thanks to Hardaway Jr.’s perimeter shooting and Brown’s slashing. Golden State’s bench featured strong moments from Payton II and Spencer, but the overall unit could not match Denver’s depth and consistency, especially once foul trouble and fatigue affected the starters.

Defensive Adjustments and Shot Profile

Defensively, Denver began the game trading makes with Golden State, then tightened their coverages. They showed more discipline in pick-and-roll defense, closing out on Porziņģis and Podziemski without over-committing and using Jokić’s positioning to protect the rim and deter drives. As the game progressed, Golden State’s offense skewed more toward contested perimeter shots and fewer efficient looks in the paint or at the rim, while Denver continued to mix three-pointers, cuts, and inside touches for Jokić.

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Key Individual Matchups

Nikola Jokić vs Kristaps Porziņģis

Player	PTS	REB	AST	FG%	+/-
Nikola Jokić	25	15	8	50.0%	+16
Kristaps Porziņģis	23	3	2	57.1%	–15

Porziņģis was nearly flawless from deep, punishing early defensive lapses with five made threes. Jokić, however, impacted almost every possession with rebounding, playmaking, and screening, controlling the flow of the game in ways that extended beyond his scoring total.

Jamal Murray vs Brandin Podziemski

Player	PTS	REB	AST	FG%	+/-
Jamal Murray	20	6	7	58.3%	+13
Brandin Podziemski	23	5	2	57.1%	–8

Podziemski’s scoring kept Golden State competitive early, but Murray’s combination of scoring and distribution was more influential over the full 48 minutes. Murray repeatedly exploited mismatches in pick-and-roll and made timely reads that set up Denver’s shooters during the decisive third-quarter run.

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2025–26 Season Series

For broader context beyond this single Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors full game stats breakdown, here’s how the regular-season series played out.

Date	Location	Result	Score	Leading scorer
Oct 23, 2025	Chase Center (GSW)	Warriors win (OT)	137–131	Stephen Curry — 42 pts
Nov 7, 2025	Ball Arena (DEN)	Nuggets win	129–104	Nikola Jokić — 26 pts
Feb 22, 2026	Chase Center (GSW)	Warriors win	128–117	Nikola Jokić — 35 pts
Mar 29, 2026	Ball Arena (DEN)	Nuggets win	116–93	Nikola Jokić — 25 pts

The series featured multiple high-scoring performances, including Jokić’s triple-double outings and Curry’s overtime heroics in the opener. This final meeting showcased Denver’s ability to dominate even against a Warriors team that, despite missing its primary star, remained structurally dangerous.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who had the highest plus-minus in this Nuggets vs Warriors game?
Christian Braun recorded the highest plus-minus at +17, reflecting Denver’s strong stretches whenever he was on the floor. His combination of off-ball movement, defense, and efficient scoring helped stabilize lineups around Jokić and Murray, particularly during the third-quarter surge.

Did anyone record a double-double or triple-double?
Nikola Jokić posted the game’s only double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while also adding 8 assists. He came close to a triple-double but fell two assists short. No Warriors player reached double figures in both points and rebounds or points and assists in this matchup.

Which team scored more bench points?
Denver’s bench clearly won the bench comparison, scoring 43 points to Golden State’s 25. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown led the way, giving Denver the flexibility to keep offensive pressure high even when one or more starters sat.

Who had the best shooting percentage among high-usage players?
Kristaps Porziņģis was the most efficient high-usage scorer, finishing 8–14 from the field and a perfect 5–5 from three. Among Denver’s primary options, Jokić and Murray both shot above 50%, contributing to the Nuggets’ overall edge in effective field-goal percentage.

How many lead changes occurred, and when did the game swing?
There were 11 lead changes and 9 ties, most happening in the first half and early third quarter. The true turning point came in the third quarter, when Denver outscored Golden State by 19 and transformed a close game into a double-digit advantage they never surrendered.

Which lineup was most effective for Denver?
Lineups built around Jokić, Murray, Braun, and one of Hardaway Jr. or Brown proved most effective. These combinations balanced playmaking, spacing, and defensive versatility, helping Denver maximize Jokić’s passing and exploit mismatches on the perimeter.

Which team won the turnover battle?
Denver had the cleaner game in terms of ball security, committing fewer turnovers and posting a lower turnover percentage. Golden State’s miscues, especially from players pressed into larger roles, fed into Denver’s transition opportunities and helped fuel the Nuggets’ big third-quarter run.

Did points in the paint favor one side?
Points in the paint were even at 36–36, indicating that neither team overwhelmingly dominated inside. The difference came from beyond the arc and on second-chance opportunities, where Denver’s combination of shooting and timely offensive rebounding created more efficient scoring sequences.

How did fast-break and second-chance points influence the outcome?
Denver outscored Golden State in both fast-break points (16–11) and second-chance points (16–9). Those extra possessions and transition scores added up, allowing the Nuggets to widen the margin even when half-court offense looked relatively balanced at times.

Did Stephen Curry play, and how did his absence affect the game?
Stephen Curry did not play; he was officially listed as inactive with a right knee issue. In his absence, Golden State relied more heavily on Porziņģis, Podziemski, and Green for creation. While they produced solid individual numbers, the overall offensive efficiency and late-game shot quality suffered without Curry’s gravity and shot-making, contributing to Denver’s comfortable win.

The Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors match player stats from March 29, 2026 show Denver rallying for a 116–93 victory at Ball Arena. Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, while Jamal Murray added 20 points and seven assists in a game Denver controlled after halftime.nba+1

Golden State carried a 53–46 lead into the break after a strong second quarter, but Denver responded with a 40–21 third period and never gave the Warriors a route back. Kristaps Porziņģis and Brandin Podziemski scored 23 points each for Golden State, but the visitors could not match Denver’s shooting efficiency, bench production, or transition scoring in the final 24 minutes.espn+1

Game Leaders and Team Comparison

Category	Player or Team	Stat
Final score	Denver Nuggets	116–93
Points	Nikola Jokić, DEN	25
Warriors scoring leaders	Kristaps Porziņģis, GSW; Brandin Podziemski, GSW	23 each
Rebounds	Nikola Jokić, DEN	15
Assists	Nikola Jokić, DEN	8
Warriors assists	Draymond Green, GSW; Pat Spencer, GSW	8 each
Highest plus-minus	Christian Braun, DEN	+17
Attendance	Ball Arena	19,588 sellout

Jokić was the central figure throughout the game. His scoring was efficient enough to lead Denver without requiring an unusually high shot volume, and his 15 rebounds helped limit Golden State’s ability to extend possessions. He also created scoring opportunities for Denver’s shooters, finishing with eight assists and just two turnovers.

Team	FG	FG%	3PT	3PT%	FT	REB	AST	TO	Bench PTS
Golden State Warriors	35–83	42.2%	14–42	33.3%	9–11	48	29	15	25
Denver Nuggets	43–86	50.0%	19–40	47.5%	11–12	48	31	12	43

Denver’s overall shooting advantage was substantial. The Nuggets made eight more field goals and five more three-pointers, which alone accounted for a 21-point gap in made baskets from the field. Denver also had a more productive bench, a lower turnover total, and better output in transition and second-chance opportunities.statsdmz.nba+1

The raw rebounding numbers were even when team rebounds were included, so this was not a game Denver won by overwhelming Golden State on the glass. The difference was shot quality and conversion. Denver made 50% of its field-goal attempts and 47.5% of its threes; Golden State shot 42.2% overall and 33.3% from three.

Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors Box Score

Final score by quarter

Team	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter	Final
Golden State Warriors	28	25	21	19	93
Denver Nuggets	23	23	40	30	116

Golden State started well, taking a 28–23 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 53–46 by halftime. The Warriors’ best stretch came in the second period, when a 19–2 run gave them a double-digit lead and appeared to put Denver under real pressure.espn+1

The third quarter changed everything. Denver outscored Golden State 40–21, turning a seven-point deficit into an 86–74 lead. The Nuggets then won the fourth 30–19, producing a 70–40 advantage over the final two quarters.espn+1

The final margin can make the game look one-sided, but the first half was much tighter. There were 11 lead changes and nine ties before Denver’s second-half execution established control. The Nuggets eventually built a 23-point largest lead.

Read More: Purple Flowers

Denver Nuggets player stats

Player	MIN	PTS	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	FG	3PT	FT	+/-
Nikola Jokić	36:08	25	3	12	15	8	1	0	2	3	10–20	4–8	1–1	+16
Jamal Murray	34:27	20	0	6	6	7	2	1	4	1	7–12	2–4	4–5	+13
Tim Hardaway Jr.	26:07	16	1	2	3	2	2	0	0	0	5–10	4–8	2–2	+12
Bruce Brown	24:41	15	0	1	1	0	2	0	1	5	6–11	3–4	0–0	+7
Christian Braun	32:49	12	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	1	5–8	0–3	2–2	+17
Peyton Watson	22:16	10	2	4	6	5	0	1	2	5	3–11	2–5	2–2	+11
Julian Strawther	17:38	7	0	2	2	2	0	0	1	1	3–7	1–3	0–0	+7
Cameron Johnson	19:08	6	0	1	1	3	1	1	0	0	2–5	2–4	0–0	+13
DaRon Holmes II	1:56	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2–2	1–1	0–0	+2

Jokić’s 25 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists were the most complete individual line of the night. His ability to score from the post, find cutters, and make four three-pointers meant Golden State could not settle into one defensive coverage. He also had a plus-16 rating, reinforcing Denver’s overall control during his minutes.

Murray supplied the complementary scoring and playmaking Denver needed. His seven assists helped the Nuggets avoid overloading Jokić as the sole creator, and his efficient 7-of-12 shooting kept the Warriors from crowding Denver’s interior offense. Christian Braun did not have a high-volume scoring game, but his plus-17 led all players and reflected the effectiveness of Denver’s lineups when he was on the floor.

Denver’s bench was pivotal. Hardaway and Brown combined for 31 points, and both consistently punished the Warriors from beyond the arc. Hardaway made four threes and scored 13 of his 16 points after halftime, including 10 in the third quarter. Brown scored 15 points, made three of four threes, and added two steals.espn+1

Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats

Player	MIN	PTS	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	FG	3PT	FT	+/-
Kristaps Porziņģis	28:39	23	0	3	3	2	1	0	2	1	8–14	5–5	2–2	-15
Brandin Podziemski	31:45	23	0	5	5	2	2	1	0	1	8–14	5–8	2–2	-8
Gary Payton II	20:59	16	1	4	5	1	0	0	0	5	7–8	1–2	1–1	-2
Draymond Green	29:33	13	0	4	4	8	1	0	2	2	5–11	2–7	1–1	-14
Gui Santos	32:31	9	2	8	10	3	1	0	4	4	3–9	1–4	2–2	-12
Pat Spencer	24:10	7	3	2	5	8	2	0	0	2	3–9	0–4	1–3	0
De’Anthony Melton	25:20	0	0	1	1	3	2	0	2	0	0–5	0–3	0–0	-29

Porziņģis and Podziemski provided Golden State’s best offensive production. Porziņģis made all five of his three-point attempts and was efficient overall, while Podziemski connected on five of eight threes. Payton added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, giving the Warriors three highly efficient scorers.

The issue was the offense outside those individual contributions. Golden State had only four double-figure scorers and generated just 40 second-half points. Green and Spencer each had eight assists, but the Warriors could not produce enough high-quality shots once Denver began converting at a high rate and forcing them to play from behind.

Why Denver Won: Third-Quarter Execution, Depth, and Shooting

Denver’s most important edge came from the way it adjusted after halftime. The Nuggets made 14 of 23 shots in the third quarter and hit eight of 14 threes. Golden State, by comparison, made seven of 21 field goals and two of 10 threes in the same period.

That shooting difference did more than increase Denver’s score. It forced the Warriors to defend a wider floor, creating room for Jokić to operate as a scorer and passer. Denver’s role players benefitted from the additional space: Hardaway and Brown made seven combined threes, while Watson contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Denver also used transition better. The Nuggets recorded 16 fast-break points to Golden State’s 11, and their 16 second-chance points doubled the Warriors’ nine. Those advantages were especially valuable because neither team had a major rebounding edge; Denver simply made better use of its extra opportunities.

Michael Malone’s group benefited from its depth, but the win was not merely a bench story. Denver had six double-figure scorers and 31 assists, showing that the offense remained balanced across its primary and secondary options. The Nuggets’ 12 turnovers were manageable, especially compared with the Warriors’ 15, and Denver converted mistakes into 22 points off turnovers.

For Steve Kerr’s Warriors, the first-half success could not carry over because the team’s shot-making cooled and Denver’s offense improved. Golden State made 35 of 83 field-goal attempts for the game and just 14 of 42 threes. The 33.3% three-point mark was not disastrous in isolation, but it was not enough against a Denver team shooting 47.5% from deep.

Injury Context and Season Impact

Golden State entered the game without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III, and Al Horford. Curry was listed with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, Butler was unavailable after right ACL surgery, and Horford was out with a right soleus strain. Those absences reduced Golden State’s available ball-handling, shooting, and lineup versatility.

Denver was without Aaron Gordon because of left-calf tightness. The Nuggets also had in-game concerns: Spencer Jones left with hamstring tightness, and Cameron Johnson did not return after leaving in the third quarter with a rib injury. Denver’s ability to absorb those absences and still receive 43 bench points was an important part of the result.espn+1

The victory improved Denver to 48–28 and extended its winning streak to six games. At that stage of the season, the Nuggets were two games ahead of Minnesota and Houston for fourth place in the Western Conference. Golden State dropped to 36–39 and remained affected by injuries within its rotation.

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