Nuggets rally past Warriors with big 3rd quarter

Nikola Jokic's double-double leads Denver to 6th straight win

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:25am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Denver Nuggets rallied from a halftime deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors 116-93 on Sunday night. Nikola Jokic had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half to lead the Nuggets' comeback. Denver outscored Golden State 40-21 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

Why it matters

The win extends the Nuggets' winning streak to six games and keeps them in the hunt for a top playoff seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the loss is another setback for the struggling Warriors, who are still without injured star Steph Curry.

The details

The Warriors jumped out to a 47-34 lead in the second quarter, but the Nuggets rallied to cut the deficit to 53-46 at halftime. Denver then took over in the third quarter, with Jokic hitting a step-back three-pointer to give the Nuggets the lead and Hardaway adding a four-point play to spark a 14-3 run. The Nuggets outscored the Warriors 40-21 in the third to take an 86-74 lead into the fourth quarter.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • Steph Curry has missed the last 25 games due to right knee soreness.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets' star center, who had 25 points and 15 rebounds in the win.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Nuggets' guard, who scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half to help fuel the comeback.

Steph Curry

The Golden State Warriors' star player, who has missed the last 25 games due to right knee soreness.

Brandin Podziemski

The Warriors' rookie guard, who scored 23 points in the loss.

Kristaps Porzingis

The Warriors' forward, who also scored 23 points in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out with more energy in the second half. Our defense sparked our offense and we were able to take control of the game.”

— Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Center

What’s next

The Nuggets will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, April 1. The Warriors will try to bounce back when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, April 2.

The takeaway

The Nuggets' ability to rally from a halftime deficit and dominate the third quarter shows their resilience and depth, which will be crucial as they push for a high playoff seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Warriors' struggles without Steph Curry continue, raising questions about their ability to return to championship contention this season.