A 40-Point Third Quarter Puts Denver's Defense, Not Its Passing, on Trial
Golden State turned a four-point halftime lead into a rout in one quarter, and Denver's fix starts at the defensive end.
The Nuggets lost 134-114 at home to the Warriors, who won the third quarter 40-28 and led by as many as 24. At 1-2 and tenth, Denver plays a rematch at New Orleans on Wednesday against a Pelicans team it beat 141-135 three days ago.
Where did it break?
Denver led 32-28 after one quarter and trailed only 60-56 at halftime, after five lead changes and five ties. Then the Warriors scored 40 in the third. A 9-0 run midway through the period turned 71-65 into 80-65, and the quarter ended 100-84. Denver's biggest lead all night was eight. Yaxel Lendeborg had 31 points and 12 rebounds and made 12 of 13 free throws. Stephen Curry went 8 for 8. Mile High Sports' Ryan Blackburn called the defense porous, and 134 points allowed is hard to argue with.
Who held up?
DeMar DeRozan led the team off the bench with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, went 5 for 5 on free throws, had two steals and finished -7 in 29 minutes. Grade: B+. Jamal Murray had 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, eight assists and three steals, and his -5 in 36 minutes matched Marvin Bagley III's -5 in 11 for the best mark on the team. Grade: B+. Aaron Gordon shot 2 for 10 and was -12. Grade: D. Bryce Hopkins scored 13 on efficient shooting but was -21 in 31 minutes, the worst mark of the night, and Tyus Jones was -16 in nine minutes.
Is the ball movement the problem?
Nikola Jokic had 11 assists and Murray had eight. Denver's other five listed scorers had seven assists combined. Jokic went 8 for 18, including 1 for 6 from three, and finished -16. Grade: C+. Two players carried the playmaking, which is what a short-handed rotation looks like. The missing piece is the five that made it work: Gordon, Jokic, Murray, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun were +13.5 together in 2025-26. Braun had nine points, three turnovers and a -13 without Johnson next to him. With 5:34 left and Denver down 17, Murray and Jokic were still in the game with Braun, Hopkins and Trevon Brazile, and the reserves finished it. Nugg Love's Ben Handler argued this week that heavy minutes for the stars carry a cost.
What does Wednesday change?
Denver is 1-2, tenth, and 1.5 games behind sixth-place Minnesota at 3-1. Both teams come into New Orleans on one day of rest. The Pelicans are 0-3, Yves Missi is out with a knee injury and Jordan Poole is listed with an illness. Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones and Diallo are all listed with a possible return on October 28. A Cup game at Phoenix follows on October 30. Saturday's 141-135 win showed the offense can keep pace with New Orleans. The number to watch Wednesday is the 135 they allowed.
Why did the Nuggets lose to the Warriors?
Golden State outscored Denver 40-28 in the third quarter and turned a 60-56 halftime lead into a 100-84 cushion. Lendeborg's 31 points and Curry's 8-of-8 shooting kept the margin there.
When could Cameron Johnson return for the Nuggets?
Johnson is listed with a right ankle injury and a possible return on October 28. Denver plays at New Orleans that night.
