Stephen Curry’s spectacular 42-point outing, featuring a game-tying three-pointer in the final moments of regulation, propelled the Golden State Warriors to a 137-131 overtime triumph over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. The thrilling victory at Chase Center in San Francisco underscored Curry’s enduring clutch prowess and gave the Warriors a perfect 2-0 start to the NBA season.
The Nuggets, playing their first game of the season, initially struggled, falling behind 10-0 in the opening minutes. However, they quickly rallied with 12 consecutive points, led by Aaron Gordon’s red-hot shooting. Gordon finished the first half with a perfect 7-for-7 from three-point range, the most threes ever in a half of a season opener, helping Denver take a 70-61 lead into halftime.
Curry took over in the second half, scoring 16 straight points for Golden State across the end of the fourth quarter and into overtime. His most critical contribution came with 21.9 seconds left in regulation when he sank a deep three-pointer to tie the game at 120-120, after Gordon had given Denver a brief lead with a three of his own just seconds earlier. Nikola Jokic’s missed shot at the buzzer sent the game to an extra period.
In overtime, the Warriors dominated with a 12-2 run. Al Horford ignited the surge with a corner three-pointer, and Jimmy Butler sealed it with a back-breaking three that made it 133-127 with 41 seconds to play. Denver’s offense stalled, and Golden State closed out the win despite Gordon’s career-high 50 points, which included 10 three-pointers on 11 attempts.
Gordon’s performance set a Nuggets franchise record for points in a season opener, surpassing Alex English’s 47 from 1985, and tied Terry Rozier’s NBA record for most three-pointers in a season opener. Jokic recorded his fourth triple-double in a season opener, joining Oscar Robertson in the record books with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Warriors’ 2-0 start positions them well in the competitive Western Conference, while the Nuggets begin the season 0-1. Both teams face quick turnarounds, with Golden State visiting Portland on Friday and Denver hosting Phoenix on Saturday. This epic clash highlights the intensity of NBA basketball and sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.