Nuggets Use Huge 4th to Beat Warriors
By Matt Welch
January 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives to the basket during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets scored 37 points in the 4th quarter to rally once again to a 116-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The win is the 5th in a row for Denver and its 23rd straight win at home when scoring over 100 points. Denver broke 100 points at the 6:52 mark in the 4th quarter.
For the first three quarters, the Warriors were playing their game. They were leading 87-79 at the end of the 3rd. For most of the game, Golden State was dominating by shooting the 3 ball, led by Stephen Curry. At the half, Curry had 21 points and 5 of 6 from deep. The team as a whole was shooting 50% from behind the arc. The Warriors defense was holding the Nuggets in check for most of the game, keeping their fastbreak points to only six in the first half.
The fourth quarter was a completely different story. The Nuggets opened the quarter with a 19-2 run after the Warriors finished the 3rd quarter on a 12-4 run. Denver put their foot on the pedal in the 4th and never let up, racking up a couple of three balls and capitalized on their fastbreak opportunities.
Gallinari led the Nuggets with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ty Lawson added 20 points, most of those coming in the first half. Kenneth Faried was one point shy of racking up another double-double. He scored 9 points and added 10 boards. Other Nuggets in double figures included Andre Iguodala, Corey Brewer, Andre Miller, and Wilson Chandler. Chandler scored 14 in his return, hitting his first bucket from behind the arc.
Curry finished with 29 points, going 7 of 9 from deep. David Lee scored 23 points and pulled in 13 boards. Harrison Barnes posted 21 points, a new career high for him. Klay Thompson and Jarrett Jack were also in double figures.
The Nuggets outscored the Warriors in the paint 58-32 and out rebounded them 44-39. 14 of the Nuggets 44 rebounds were offensive. Golden State had just 6. Denver improves to 14-2 at home this season.
Next up for Denver is the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at the Pepsi Center at 6:00 p.m. MST (8:00 ET).