The Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats 2026 delivered one of the most thrilling regular-season showdowns of the NBA season.
Played on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors edged out the Denver Nuggets 128-117.
Despite a historic Nikola Jokic triple-double performance, the Nuggets fell short as the Warriors pulled away in the final minutes.
Game Overview: Warriors Win 128-117
The game took place on February 22, 2026, with a 3:30 PM ET tipoff at Chase Center.
Referees Marc Davis, Che Flores, and Robert Hussey officiated the contest.
The Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak despite being shorthanded due to multiple key injuries.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, February 22, 2026 |
| Location | Chase Center, San Francisco |
| Final Score | Warriors 128 – Nuggets 117 |
| Tipoff | 3:30 PM ET |
| Referees | Marc Davis, Che Flores, Robert Hussey |
Golden State Warriors Player Stats
The Warriors were severely shorthanded but still managed to dominate late in the contest.
Stephen Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), and Draymond Green (back) were all inactive for Golden State.
Despite the absences, several role players stepped up in massive ways to secure the win.
Warriors Top Performers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandin Podziemski | 18 | 15 | 9 | 12 pts in final 5 mins |
| Moses Moody | 23 | 7 | – | Career-level output |
| Al Horford | 22 | – | 7 | 6 three-pointers |
| DeAnthony Melton | 20 | – | – | Key bench spark |
Brandin Podziemski was the hero of the night, finishing with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists.
He shot 7-of-16 from the field and scored 12 of his 18 points in the critical final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Moses Moody led all scorers with 23 points and added 7 rebounds in a breakout performance.
Al Horford was outstanding from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers and finishing with 22 points and 7 assists.
DeAnthony Melton provided a crucial 20-point contribution off the bench to keep the Warriors ahead.
Denver Nuggets Player Stats
The Nuggets came in off a 54-point blowout win over Portland just two days earlier.
Denver never led in the first half but made a strong second-half push before the Warriors closed it out.
The Nuggets had won three of their previous five games heading into this matchup.
Nuggets Top Performers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | 25 | 20 | 12 | 183rd career triple-double |
| Jamal Murray | 21 | – | – | Second scorer for DEN |
| Julian Strawther | 16+ | – | – | Hot in recent road games |
Nikola Jokic delivered his 183rd career triple-double with an elite stat line of 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists.
It was his 19th triple-double of the 2025-26 season, and his fifth in just the last seven games.
Jokic was one assist shy of a first-half triple-double, showcasing his extraordinary floor vision and dominance.
Jamal Murray scored 21 points for Denver, playing aggressively throughout both halves.
Julian Strawther had been averaging 16.6 points per game over his last 5 road games entering this contest, making him a key piece of Denver’s away offense.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score Breakdown
The game was close in the first half before the Warriors pulled away with a dominant late run.
Golden State led 76-67 at halftime and never relinquished the lead despite Denver’s second-half surge.
The Warriors completed a decisive 19-8 run in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
| Quarter | Nuggets | Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | – | Led by Horford’s 11 pts |
| Q2 | 67 | 76 (Halftime) |
| Q3 | Denver run | Warriors held on |
| Q4 | 117 | 128 (Final) |
The 19-8 closing run in Q4 was punctuated by Podziemski hitting back-to-back threes and a crucial put-back.
Al Horford added his sixth three-pointer to ice the game as the Chase Center crowd erupted.
Key Team Stats Comparison
Understanding the Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors match player stats 2026 requires a look at team-level data.
The Denver Nuggets entered the game as the highest-scoring offense in the NBA this season.
Golden State’s home scoring average of 119.8 points per game was ranked 4th-best in the league over the last 10 games.
| Stat Category | Nuggets | Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 117 | 128 |
| Pace of Play (Last 5) | 8th Fastest | 7th Slowest |
| Offensive Rebounds/G | 8.7 (Last in NBA) | 6th-worst |
| Home Scoring Avg | – | 119.8 PPG (4th) |
| 3PT Efficiency | Most efficient in NBA | Most 3PT attempts in NBA |
Denver’s offensive rebounding was a glaring weakness, ranked last in the league over the last 20 games with just 8.7 per contest.
Golden State’s slower tempo played into their hands at home, reducing Denver’s preferred fast-paced possessions.
Shooting and Three-Point Analysis
Three-point shooting played a massive role in the Warriors vs Nuggets match player stats 2026 outcome.
Al Horford’s six three-pointers set the tone early and gave the Warriors reliable spacing despite missing their star players.
The Warriors as a team lead the NBA in three-point attempts, and that aggression was fully on display in this game.
Denver is the most efficient three-point shooting team in the league this season, yet Golden State’s defense limited their opportunities at key moments.
When the Nuggets visited opposing teams, opposing starting power forwards shot 44.8% from three against them, ranking 5th in the NBA, a favorable matchup for Golden State’s big men.
The opposing starting small forwards against the Warriors posted the highest three-point rate in the league at 47.0%, giving Denver’s wings an interesting opportunity they ultimately could not fully convert.
Nikola Jokic Historic Night
Nikola Jokic’s performance deserves its own section in any Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors match player stats 2026 recap.
His 25-point, 20-rebound, 12-assist game was the 183rd triple-double of his career, further cementing his status as one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
It was his 19th triple-double of this season alone, a remarkable pace that leads the entire league by a wide margin.
Jokic leads the NBA in rebounds per game (RPG), assists per game (APG), and true shooting percentage (TS%) according to StatMuse 2026 league leaders.
Despite his historic night, the Nuggets could not get over the hump against a determined Warriors squad playing with tremendous heart despite their injury-depleted roster.
Warriors’ Injury Report Impact
The Warriors were without four of their most impactful players for this game.
Stephen Curry missed the game with a knee injury, removing the team’s primary offensive engine.
Jimmy Butler was out long-term with a torn right ACL, while Kristaps Porzingis sat out due to illness.
Draymond Green was a late scratch due to a back issue, further stripping the Warriors of their defensive identity.
| Inactive Player | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | Knee injury |
| Jimmy Butler | Warriors | Torn right ACL |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Warriors | Illness |
| Draymond Green | Warriors | Back (late scratch) |
| Aaron Gordon | Nuggets | Inactive |
| Peyton Watson | Nuggets | Inactive |
The fact that Golden State won 128-117 without these four starters made this victory one of the most impressive team efforts of the entire 2025-26 season.
Foul and Free Throw Trends
Free throw opportunities were a significant talking point heading into the Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors player stats matchup.
Opposing starting point guards had attempted 7.2 free throws per game against the Warriors in the last five games, the second-highest rate in the NBA.
The Nuggets’ starting power forwards found the free throw line difficult at Chase Center, with opposing PFs averaging just 3.1 attempts in that matchup setting.
Denver’s starting point guards had been averaging 5.6 free throw attempts per game over the last five contests, ranking 4th in the league, suggesting Murray was aggressive getting to the line.
The Warriors’ starting SGs faced opponents who attempted 3.7 free throws per game against Denver, the third-most in the league, a pattern that continued in this game.
Pace and Possession Battle
Pace of play was a major strategic factor in the Nuggets vs Warriors match player stats for February 22, 2026.
Denver entered the game playing at the 8th-fastest pace in the NBA over the last five contests, preferring an up-tempo style that generates more possessions.
Golden State, by contrast, played at the 7th-slowest pace over the same stretch, successfully controlling the game’s tempo at home.
This clash of styles gave the Warriors a natural advantage at Chase Center, where they could dictate the flow and reduce Denver’s transition opportunities.
The Nuggets were expected to experience fewer possessions than usual, which limited opportunities for their historically efficient offense.
Denver’s Road Struggles and Offensive Rebounding
One of the most notable team stats in the Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors match player stats 2026 was Denver’s offensive rebounding issue.
The Nuggets ranked dead last in the NBA in offensive rebounds over the last 20 games, averaging a mere 8.7 per contest.
This weakness meant Denver could not extend possessions on missed shots, making each bucket all the more critical against a hot Warriors offense.
On the road, Denver’s starting small forwards had attempted just 3.2 free throw shots per game, ranked 10th-most in the league, showing some ability to draw fouls away from home.
Julian Strawther’s recent road form, 16.6 points in his last five away games, suggested a rising secondary scorer for Denver but it wasn’t enough on this night.
Head-to-Head 2025-26 Season Record
The Warriors and Nuggets had two prior matchups in the 2025-26 NBA season before this February contest.
Their October 23, 2025 meeting and the November 7, 2025 rematch both took place before this February 22 showdown.
This third meeting showed how closely contested these two Western Conference rivals continue to be in the current season.
| Meeting | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct 23, 2025 | TBD |
| Game 2 | Nov 7, 2025 | TBD |
| Game 3 | Feb 22, 2026 | Warriors 128-117 |
Both teams remained active in the Western Conference standings, with the Nuggets scheduled to host the Boston Celtics next on Wednesday and the Warriors heading to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Tuesday.
What This Win Means for the Warriors
The Warriors ending a two-game losing streak in this fashion was hugely significant for their playoff positioning.
Winning 128-117 without Curry, Butler, Green, and Porzingis showed remarkable depth and team chemistry down the roster.
Podziemski’s near triple-double performance (18 pts, 15 reb, 9 ast) announced him as a legitimate emerging star in the league.
The home crowd at Chase Center was electric, particularly after Horford’s sixth three-pointer sealed the victory in the fourth quarter.
What This Loss Means for the Nuggets
Despite Jokic’s legendary stat line, Denver’s supporting cast was unable to match Golden State’s collective output.
The Nuggets’ inability to secure offensive rebounds continued to haunt them in high-stakes road games.
Denver’s schedule featured the Boston Celtics next, which would be another major test of their Western Conference credentials.
The loss dropped them to three wins in their last five games but didn’t significantly alter their position in the standings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who won the Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors game on February 22, 2026?
The Golden State Warriors won 128-117 over the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center in San Francisco.
What were Nikola Jokic’s stats in the Nuggets vs Warriors 2026 game?
Jokic recorded 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists, his 183rd career triple-double and 19th of the 2025-26 season.
Who was the top scorer in the Warriors vs Nuggets February 22 match?
Moses Moody led all scorers with 23 points and 7 rebounds for the Golden State Warriors.
Was Stephen Curry active in the Denver Nuggets vs Warriors game?
No, Stephen Curry missed the game due to a knee injury along with Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Draymond Green.
What did Brandin Podziemski do in the Nuggets vs Warriors match player stats?
Podziemski finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists, scoring 12 of his points in the final five minutes.
How many three-pointers did Al Horford hit against the Nuggets in 2026?
Al Horford knocked down six three-pointers, totaling 22 points and 7 assists in the Warriors’ win.
What was Jamal Murray’s stat line in the Nuggets Warriors game February 2026?
Jamal Murray scored 21 points for the Denver Nuggets in the 128-117 loss at Chase Center.
Where was the Nuggets vs Warriors February 22 2026 game played?
The game was played at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, home of the Golden State Warriors.
What was Denver’s halftime score vs Golden State Warriors 2026?
Denver trailed 67-76 at halftime and never led throughout the entire first half.
What was the Warriors’ closing run at the end of the Nuggets game?
Golden State closed the game with a 19-8 run in the fourth quarter to secure the 128-117 victory.
Conclusion
The Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats 2026 reveal a game defined by individual brilliance and team resilience.
Nikola Jokic delivered a historically rare 25-20-12 triple-double, yet the Warriors, missing four key players, still outlasted Denver 128-117.
Brandin Podziemski’s clutch fourth quarter, Moses Moody’s 23-point breakout, and Al Horford’s six three-pointers were the defining moments.
This game will be remembered as a testament to Golden State’s depth and Denver’s reliance on Jokic in tough road environments during the 2025-26 NBA season.
