SAN FRANCISCO – In a highly anticipated matchup on Friday night, the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Denver Nuggets, with both teams eager to assert their dominance on the court. For the first six and a half minutes of the second quarter, however, the spotlight was absent from the two superstars of the game: Steph Curry of the Warriors and Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets. Both players were either sitting on the bench or waiting at the scorer’s table, forcing their respective teammates to step up in a crucial moment.

The Warriors entered this game with heavy hearts, having not defeated the Nuggets since the 2022 NBA playoffs. Since that fateful series, the two teams had met nine times, with the Nuggets claiming victory in each encounter. This streak weighed on the minds of the Warriors as they prepared to take the court at the Chase Center, particularly after a grueling six-game road trip that left them exhausted.

Despite being down 10 points after the first quarter, the Warriors showed remarkable resilience. The second quarter began without Curry and Jokić, but rather than faltering, the Warriors rallied. They started the quarter with a 7-0 run, quickly narrowing the gap against the Nuggets. This unexpected surge prompted Denver coach Michael Malone to call a timeout as the Warriors drew closer, trailing only three points.

Defensively, the Warriors upped their intensity, holding the Nuggets scoreless for over four minutes in the second quarter. By maintaining a high level of defensive pressure, they limited Denver to just 16 points in that quarter. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr emphasized the change in their approach, stating, “Just our physicality. I thought we got into the ball, were more physical. The first quarter they were just doing anything they wanted.” The defense proved crucial, as the Nuggets’ field goal percentage dropped significantly; they could only manage 35 percent shooting in the second quarter.

In the first quarter, the Nuggets had dominated, scoring 44 points with a staggering shooting percentage of 70.8 percent. The Warriors, although respectable with 34 points and a 54.5 percent shooting rate, struggled to contain the Denver offense, especially with Jokić showcasing his skill in the paint. However, the Warriors found their footing defensively in the second quarter, which was pivotal in their comeback.

Draymond Green, a key player in the Warriors' lineup, articulated the shift in momentum perfectly. “They started to feel us,” he noted, reflecting on how the intense defensive effort changed the course of the game. By the time Curry returned to the floor, the Warriors had fought their way back, trailing by only one point with just over five minutes left in the first half.

During Curry's absence, a group of players including Green, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, and Quinten Post stepped up. Their balanced scoring meant that no single player dominated; instead, they contributed collectively to maintain pressure on the Nuggets. This change in lineup has been particularly effective for the Warriors since acquiring Butler, as Kerr praised the impact of this new lineup on their performance.

As the second quarter concluded, the Warriors found themselves up by six points, fueled by Curry's late surge, scoring 12 points in the final five and a half minutes before halftime. Even as Jokić put up a strong performance with 14 points in the third quarter, Curry and the Warriors maintained their grip on the game, ultimately sealing a 118-104 victory.

After the game, Curry reflected on the significance of this win, particularly against a team that had plagued them for so long. “We knew about the streak for sure,” Curry remarked. “It is a little extra motivation of needing a win to stand pat in the standings.” The victory not only bolstered the Warriors' confidence but also served as a reminder of their resilience and ability to overcome adversity in a tight Western Conference race.