Golden State WarriorsOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Denver dominated Golden State 116–93 on March 29 at Ball Arena, holding the Warriors to just 19 points in the fourth quarter to seal a decisive Western Conference victory. Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets with 25 points while Jamal Murray added 20, as Denver's offense clicked at 50% from the field and 19 three-pointers made, significantly outpacing Golden State's 42.2% shooting and 14 threes. The Nuggets' defensive rating of 101.3 proved suffocating, particularly in the third quarter when Denver outscored the Warriors 40–21 to break open a tight contest. Golden State's Kristaps Porziņģis and Bogdan Bogdanović each scored 23 points, but the Warriors' 13 turnovers and 29 assists couldn't overcome their poor shooting efficiency or Denver's 31 assists on 116 points. The game fell well short of the Vegas total of 238.5, with Denver's defensive execution in the second half the decisive factor. The Nuggets' third-quarter explosion underscored their ability to shift momentum, a critical strength heading into the playoff stretch.
