Nuggets edge Warriors 115-108 behind Will Barton's 25 points

DENVER — Four straight games against top-tier opponents, four straight outcomes decided in the final few minutes. The most recent stretch of Denver Nuggets basketball has been exciting, heart-pounding and dramatic. Tonight’s matchup was more of the same.

Behind 25 points from Will Barton and 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists from Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets topped the Golden State Warriors 115-108 in one of their most impressive victories of the season.

In a game that seemed to be teetering the Warriors’ direction with every Kevin Durant made field goal, Denver battled to within four at the 7:16 mark of the fourth quarter on a Trey Lyles three-point play. That margin stayed true until Denver tied the score thanks to three Gary Harris free-throws with under six minutes to go.

A Barton three put the Nuggets up 102-99 with 4:10 left and prompted a Warriors’ timeout. Denver then widened its margin to five after two Jokic free-throws with under two to go. Nick Young’s airball and subsequent technical foul gave the Nuggets a seven-point margin that ended it.

Elsewhere for Denver, Harris chipped in 16 points. Lyles added 15 off the Nuggets’ bench.

Jamal Murray (right thigh contusion) was limited to five first-quarter minutes and played just 10 minutes in the first half. But Denver turned in a gutsy performance of the game’s first two quarters and trailed 56-55 at the break. In the first half, Golden State shot just 4-18 from three-point range and missed 13 consecutive treys to close the second quarter.

Denver’s starting point guard, who looked like he was playing on one leg for most of the night, finished with 15 points on 4-9 shooting.

Golden State got out to a 21-12 advantage in the third quarter but Denver battled back and closed to within six heading to the fourth.

In a potential first-round playoff preview, Denver showed they can hang with Golden State.

The Nuggets host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday before jetting off to Houston on Friday and then Phoenix on Saturday for a back-to-back.