The Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 128 to 117 on February 22, 2026, despite a remarkable performance from Nikola Jokić. Golden State’s answer was shared scoring, fast passing and a decisive fourth quarter.
That was not the teams’ latest meeting. Denver won their subsequent game 116 to 93 on March 29. This article explains the Warriors’ February victory, then offers predictions for their next three scheduled meetings. The predictions are opinions as of October 7, 2026, not results or guarantees.
February 22 Result at a Glance
Final score: Warriors 128, Nuggets 117
Warriors’ leading scorer: Moses Moody, 23 points
Nuggets’ leading scorer: Nikola Jokić, 35 points
Leading rebounder: Jokić, 20
Leading passer: Jokić, 12 assists
Golden State led 76 to 67 at halftime. Denver moved ahead during the third quarter, but the Warriors won the fourth 33 to 16 to secure the game. The player totals and team figures below come from the NBA’s official box score.
Golden State Warriors Player Stats
Moody led Golden State with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He made four three pointers and gave the Warriors scoring from the starting lineup.
Al Horford added 22 points and seven assists. His outside shooting was particularly important: he made six of seven attempts from three point range. That production helped pull Denver’s defense away from the basket and contributed to Golden State’s large advantage in outside scoring.
De’Anthony Melton finished with 20 points and four steals. Brandin Podziemski came close to a triple double with 18 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. His rebounding gave Golden State extra possessions, while his late scoring helped finish the comeback after Denver’s strong third quarter.
Gui Santos supplied 17 points and seven assists, and Gary Payton II added 15 points. Will Richard scored 11. Seven Warriors reached double figures, making it difficult for Denver to concentrate on one scorer.
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porziņģis did not play in this February matchup. That detail matters when assessing the result: this was a win driven by the available rotation, not a demonstration of what a full Warriors lineup would necessarily do against Denver.
Denver Nuggets Player Stats
Jokić was the game’s standout individual player. He recorded 35 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists, shooting 11 of 21 from the field. Denver also received 21 points from Jamal Murray and 18 from Christian Braun.
Bruce Brown contributed 12 points, while Cameron Johnson scored nine. Denver produced 60 points in the paint, compared with Golden State’s 46, and had the advantage in second chance points. Those figures show that the Nuggets had productive areas of attack. They simply could not match the Warriors’ outside shooting when the game was decided.
Why Did the Warriors Win?
The largest statistical difference was at the three point line. Golden State made 21 of 52 three pointers, while Denver made eight of 31. That is a 39 point difference from made threes. Denver’s advantage in the paint could not fully offset it.
Golden State also recorded 42 assists on 48 made field goals. That is evidence of how often the Warriors created shots through passing rather than isolated attacks. Horford, Podziemski, Santos and Moody all contributed in different ways, so the offense kept moving even without Curry.
The fourth quarter settled the contest. Denver entered it ahead 101 to 95 after outscoring Golden State in the third. The Warriors then held the Nuggets to 16 points while scoring 33. Podziemski delivered 12 of his 18 points in the final five minutes, giving Golden State the late offense it needed.
The lesson from this game is specific: Golden State won by making far more threes, sharing the ball and closing stronger. It did not stop Jokić. His 35 point triple double is a reminder that a team can win a matchup without winning every individual battle.
Golden State showed the same outside shooting strength in its January win over Portland, making 23 three pointers. See our Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers match player stats breakdown for that game’s full player stats.
What Happened in Their Latest Meeting?
Denver responded on March 29, 2026, winning 116 to 93 at home. Jokić posted 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. The Nuggets outscored the Warriors 40 to 21 in the third quarter and 30 to 19 in the fourth.
That result keeps the February win in perspective. These teams have shown they can beat each other through very different performances, and neither past score should be treated as a prediction by itself.
Who Wins the Next Three Warriors vs Nuggets Games?
The next three scheduled meetings are October 26, 2026, in Denver; December 25, 2026, at Golden State; and March 12, 2027, in Denver. These are early opinions based on venue and the available matchup history. Injuries, roster changes and form close to each game will matter much more than a prediction made months ahead.
October 26, 2026: Lean Denver
Prediction: Nuggets. Denver has home court, and Jokić has been productive in both February and March matchups. The Nuggets also won the most recent meeting by 23 points. Golden State can overturn that edge if its outside shots fall as they did in February, but Denver is my tentative choice before the regular season begins.
December 25, 2026: Lean Golden State
Prediction: Warriors, narrowly. This game is scheduled for Chase Center, where Golden State beat Denver in February without several major players. A healthier Warriors rotation could offer more scoring options. Still, that is conditional: availability and form on Christmas Day will determine whether this pick holds up.
March 12, 2027: Lean Denver
Prediction: Nuggets, with low confidence. The game is again scheduled for Denver. Jokić’s ability to score, rebound and create shots for teammates gives the Nuggets several paths to a win. March is too far away for a firm call, so this prediction should be revisited once both teams’ records and injury reports are known.