SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 In this season of bites, bumps and bruises, the Warriors have sprinkled in a few upsets but none as astonishing as that which they managed Sunday at Chase Center.<\/p>\n
Undermanned but displaying an abundance of resolve, the Warriors rode a wave of offensive firepower early and once threatened late summoned the grit required to finish an improbable 128-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Already missing Stephen Curry<\/a> (runner\u2019s knee) and Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery), the underdog Warriors became prohibitive \u2019dogs after losing Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> (illness) in the morning and Draymond Green<\/a> (low back soreness) minutes before tipoff.<\/p>\n The Warriors (30-27) nonetheless played with the level of relentlessness that built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and kept them ahead most of the game.<\/p>\n Six Warriors scored in double figures, led by Moses Moody\u2019s 23 points. Al Horford cashed in 22 points, with De\u2019Anthony Melton totaling 20, Brandin Podziemski 18 \u2013 with 15 coming in a takeover fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Golden State fell behind by eight late in the third quarter before owning the fourth quarter with a 33-16 advantage.<\/p>\n Here are three observations from Golden State\u2019s last home game before leaving the Bay Area on Monday for brief two-game road trip:<\/p>\n Magic Deserts Warriors in Third, Returns in Fourth<\/p>\n After going up 78-67 19 seconds into the third quarter, the wave the Warriors rode throughout the first half vanished.<\/p>\n The Nuggets responded with a 17-6 run to tie the game (84-84, 7:05 left in the quarter) for the first time since the opening minute. They took their first lead, 88-87, with five minutes remaining in the quarter.<\/p>\n The Warriors were reeling. After shooting 55.1 percent from the field, including 51.7 percent from distance, in the first half, Golden State tailed off dramatically in the third quarter, 29.6 percent from the field and missing all 13 of its 3-point attempts.<\/p>\n The fourth quarter, though, was a battle of wills won by the Warriors. The shots were falling (68.4 percent from the field, 54.5 from deep) and they rattled Denver into four ugly turnovers that netted seven points while limiting the Nuggets to 33.3 percent shooting, including 20 percent from deep.<\/p>\n Uncle Al Carries Flag, Brings the Juice<\/p>\n What began as a game plan featuring Green starting at center, with Horford and Porzingis participating in a three-man rotation to defend Denver\u2019s Nikola Joki\u0107, dissipated before tipoff.<\/p>\n When Porzingis was ruled out at 9:45 with an illness and Green was scratched shortly before tipoff with low back soreness, it was left to Horford to represent the team\u2019s veteran big men.<\/p>\n