Draymond Green hit a major career milestone, becoming just the second Warriors player to record 5,000 assists, during Golden State’s 129-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Friday’s NBA Cup clash at Ball Arena. Green contributed 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and made a season-high five 3-pointers, though the Warriors fell to 5-5 overall and 1-5 away from home. The Nuggets improved to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in group play.
Jokic Leads Dominant Nuggets Performance
Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, controlled the game effortlessly with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in just three quarters. He was highly efficient, hitting 12 of 15 shots and posting a +16 rating in 28 minutes. Jamal Murray added 23 points, eight assists, and five made threes while finishing with a +25 in 31 minutes of play.
Curry’s Absence Hurts Warriors’ Offense
The Warriors struggled to match their earlier offensive rhythm without Stephen Curry, who dropped 42 points in their Oct. 23 win over Denver. They also missed Al Horford’s defensive presence against Jokic — in that previous matchup, Jokic shot 8-for-23 from the field and 2-for-13 from three when Horford played. Without both players, Golden State couldn’t slow down Denver’s attack.
With this result, the Warriors sit at the bottom of West Group C with a 0-1 record and a -25 point differential. The Nuggets, improving to 1-1, climbed to third in the group standings. Golden State still has three more Cup games left to make a comeback.
Green Joins Curry in Warriors’ Record Books
Green’s first assist of the night carried special meaning. “Green’s first assist of the game, a post entry pass for an and-1 layup by Jimmy Butler III, was monumental as it marked his 5,000th career assist.” He joined Stephen Curry as the only Warriors to ever reach that milestone.
With Curry out, Green took charge from the perimeter, hitting a season-high five threes. He now has 11 career games with at least five 3-pointers, surpassing that number only once — when he drained seven against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 6, 2014.
Quinten Post’s Perfect Shooting Night
Rookie Quinten Post provided much-needed spark off the bench. The Warriors trailed by double digits late in the first quarter, but Post drilled a long jumper at the buzzer to ignite a 12-0 run within just over a minute. He capped that burst with a 3-pointer before Denver responded with a run of its own led by Jamal Murray, who scored 16 points in the second quarter alone.
Despite the defeat, Post stood out with 14 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and zero turnovers — a flawless performance in limited minutes.
Although the Warriors left Denver empty-handed, the night carried significance with Green’s milestone achievement and Post’s breakout display, offering positives to build on as the team continues its NBA Cup campaign.
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