Warriors 89, Nuggets 81
DENVER -- Forward David Lee had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors used a late push to beat the Denver Nuggets 89-81 Monday night.
Golden State guard Stephen Curry struggled but scored 14 points, guard Klay Thompson scored 13 and forward Andre Iguodala had 12 points for the Warriors.
The Warriors' guards keyed their upset of Denver in the first round of the last season's playoffs. On Monday, it was Lee, who was injured in Game 1 and didn't play the rest of the series, who led the way with his 12th consecutive double-double.
Denver guard Ty Lawson had 16 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Center Timofey Mozgov had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which lost a season-high fourth game in a row.
With the Nuggets leading 75-74 midway through the fourth, Lee hit two free throws and a turnaround bank shot to give the Warriors a 78-77 lead.
Denver made only one field goal the rest of the way, Thompson's jumper that made it 85-80 with 22 seconds left.
The Nuggets' defense and Golden State's cold shooting in the third quarter helped turn things around for Denver. After the Warriors took a 52-45 lead two minutes into the second half, they missed five consecutive shots as the Nuggets went on a 10-0 run.
Denver led 66-64 heading into the fourth.
The Warriors started the game strong, leading by 10 in the first five minutes and by 15 on Curry's 3-pointer with 5:15 left in the first quarter.
Guard Nate Robinson came off the bench to help the Nuggets get within eight at the end of the period. With Curry in foul trouble, Denver chipped away and cut it to 41-39 on forward J.J. Hickson's dunk. After Curry picked up his fourth foul, Lawson tied it at 41 with two free throws.
Golden State scored the last four points to take a 47-43 lead at halftime.
Curry finished 5-for-14 from the floor.
NOTES: Nuggets F Kenneth Faried, who sprained his left ankle in Saturday's loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, did not dress. Coach Brian Shaw said the injury was not serious and that Faried could play in Denver's next game, Friday against the Pelicans in New Orleans. ... Golden State G Andre Iguodala was booed when he was introduced and when he touched the ball. Iguodala played for Denver last season before going to the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal over the summer. ... Nuggets G Ty Lawson is one of six players in the league averaging 17 points and seven assists per game. ... The Warriors lead the NBA in games decided by four points or fewer. They are 4-7 in those games.