Nuggets Rally from 20-Point Deficit to Stun Warriors 125-119 in Overtime Classic

The Denver Nuggets delivered one of the most spectacular comebacks of the NBA season on Friday night, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 125-119 in overtime at Chase Center. The victory was anchored by a masterful performance from Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 54th triple-double of the season with 38 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists while playing all 53 minutes of this instant classic.

The Warriors appeared to be in complete control through three quarters, building their largest lead of 98-78 early in the fourth period behind spectacular three-point shooting from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Golden State was clicking on all cylinders offensively, with ball movement that reminded observers of their championship teams from earlier in the decade. Curry finished the night with 42 points on 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc, while Thompson added 28 points in what looked like a vintage Splash Brothers performance.

However, the Nuggets championship pedigree began to show in the final 12 minutes of regulation. Jokic took over the game with a combination of post moves, three-point shooting, and playmaking that left Warriors defenders helpless. The Serbian center scored 18 points in the fourth quarter alone, including a crucial three-pointer with 1:47 remaining that cut the Warriors lead to just three points. Jamal Murray, who had struggled for most of the evening, came alive at the perfect moment with back-to-back threes that completed the comeback and sent the game to overtime.

The extra period belonged entirely to Denver, with Jokic continuing his dominant display and Aaron Gordon providing crucial energy plays on both ends of the floor. The Nuggets outscored Golden State 15-9 in overtime, with their superior depth and conditioning becoming evident as several Warriors players appeared to hit a wall. Denvers bench, led by Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, provided 32 combined points and gave their starters crucial rest throughout the comeback effort.

This victory has significant playoff implications for both teams in the competitive Western Conference. The Nuggets move to within half a game of the second-place Oklahoma City Thunder and maintain their positioning as one of the conferences most dangerous teams heading into the postseason. For the Warriors, the loss drops them to the eighth seed and increases pressure on a team that has struggled with consistency throughout the 2025-26 campaign despite flashes of their championship-level potential.

The comeback also serves as another reminder of why the Nuggets remain the defending champions and perhaps the most complete team in the Western Conference. Jokics ability to elevate his game in crucial moments, combined with the teams never-say-die attitude, makes them a formidable opponent for any team hoping to knock them off their championship perch. With just over a month remaining in the regular season, performances like this one suggest that Denver is rounding into playoff form at exactly the right time.