DENVER _ The Warriors finished with a 142-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday in a game that bore two implications.
The Warriors (30-14) retook supremacy of the Western Conference over the Denver Nuggets (29-14) perhaps for good. After all, the Warriors have four fully healthy and engaged All-Stars in Stephen Curry (31 points), Klay Thompson (31), Kevin Durant (27) and Draymond Green (four points, season-high 13 assists). They are about to add a fifth one when DeMarcus Cousins plans to play on Friday against the Clippers in Los Angeles after spending nearly the past year rehabbing his left Achilles tendon.
The Warriors also set numerous scoring and 3-point shooting records. They set an NBA scoring record in most points scored in the first quarter after cementing a 51-38 first-quarter lead over Denver. The Warriors also set a franchise record for most 3-pointers made in the first quarter (10).
The game did not feature much defense from both sides. The Nuggets' featured Michael Beasley (22 points), Jamal Murray (21), Nikola Jokic (17), Will Barton (11) and Paul Millsap (10) in double figures.
The Warriors, however, topped the Nuggets in offense. The Warriors went 21-of-39 from 3, while Denver made fewer from the perimeter (a collective 14 of 34). Kevon Looney added nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while Quinn Cook had 11 points.
The Warriors play on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. They then begin a five-game trip with contests against the Clippers (Friday), Lakers (Monday), Washington (Jan. 24), Boston (Jan. 26) and Indiana (Jan 28).
