The struggling Denver Nuggets hadn’t had a signature win this season but that changed in a big way on Wednesday.
Danilo Gallinari scored 28 points and the Nuggets overcame Stephen Curry’s 38-point effort to hand the league-best Golden State Warriors just their third loss of the season, 112-110.
“We did a great job playing for 48 minutes,” Gallinari said.
“Everybody brought their A-game, it’s a great team effort for us.”
Will Barton netted 21 while fellow-reserves Gary Harris added 19 and Darrell Arthur had 18 with 11 rebounds for Denver (15-24) which made 33-of-37 free throws en route to the upset.
Harrison Barnes had 18 points and Klay Thompson finished with 17 for the defending NBA champion Warriors (36-3) who suffered their first loss since December 30 at Dallas as they rested star forward Draymond Green for the first time this season.
“For a championship team and what we’re trying to establish, we didn’t play hard enough and smart enough,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton explained. “We missed him (Drayond) for multiple reasons.  We could have used his energy tonight.”
The Warriors led 66-60 with 7:04 left in the third quarter but the Nuggets closed on a 23-7 run to take an 83-78 advantage into the final frame. Curry got hot, though, torching the Nuggets for 20 fourth quarter points, including a 3-pointer to pull the Warriors within 109-107 with 37 ticks remaining.
The reigning league MVP had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead but lost it to Gallinari with 7.9 seconds left, leading to two Harris free throws.
“I got stuck between looking for the open man and handling the ball,” Curry said of his crucial eighth turnover of the night. “I mishandled the ball and Gallinari got it.” Thompson quickly nailed a 3-pointer to bring the Warriors within 111-110 and they intentionally fouled Gallinari who made 1-of-2 free throws. Golden State went to Thompson but his potential game-winning 3-point try bounced off the front of the rim and Curry couldn’t convert the off-balanced follow shot as Golden State had its seven-game winning streak stopped.   
“Any time you’re going to try to beat the best team in the NBA you have to withstand their run like they had in the end and play good defence,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “It’s tough to contain Steph Curry for a full 48 (minutes). He scores 20 in the fourth, they score 37, which is way too many. But we made just enough plays offensively and defensively, to get a great quality win.”   
Elsewhere:
•LA Clippers 104, Miami Heat 90: Cole Aldrich scored 13 of his season-high 19 points in a decisive 34-17 third quarter, Chris Paul had 15 with 12 assists, and the surging Clippers (26-13) ran their season-high winning streak to 10 after beating the visiting Heat (22-17).
•Oklahoma City Thunder 108, Dallas Mavericks 89: Kevin Durant had 29 points with 10 rebounds and the hosting Thunder (28-12) overcame the second-quarter ejection of All-Star guard Russell Westbrook to roll the Mavericks (22-18), who rested all five starters following Tuesday’s OT loss to Cleveland. Westbrook was tossed after picking up his second technical foul with 80 seconds left before half-time following two separate skirmishes with J.J. Barea.
•Brooklyn Nets 110, New York Knicks 104: Brook Lopez scored 20 points, Thaddeus Young had 19 with 11 rebounds, as the Nets (11-28) stopped a 10-game home slide and five-game skid overall after beating the Knicks for Tony Brown’s first victory as interim head coach since replacing fired Lionel Hollins on Sunday. Derrick Williams matched his career-high with 31 points for the Knicks (20-21), who played without their top scorer Carmelo Anthony because of an ankle sprain.
•Charlotte Hornets 107, Atlanta Hawks 84: Kemba Walker scored 23 points, Cody Zeller had 19, and the Hornets (23-16) snapped a seven-game slide after stinging the visiting Hawks (18-20).
•Washington Wizards 106, Milwaukee Bucks 101: John Wall tossed in 19 points and the Wizards (18-19) forced the visiting Bucks (16-25) into a season-high 27 turnovers resulting in 36 points en route to their third consecutive victory despite Khris Middleton’s game-high 25.
•Boston Celtics 103, Indiana Pacers 94: Isaiah Thomas scored 28 points, Jae Crowder tied his career high with 25 as the Celtics (20-19) closed on a 12-0 run to beat the visiting Pacers (21-17) and snap a four-game slide.
•Houston Rockets 107, Minnesota Timberwolves 104: James Harden had 27 points with 11 assists and the Rockets (21-19) won their season-high fifth straight, while sending the sliding T-Wolves (12-28) to an eighth consecutive loss despite Andrew Wiggins game-high 28 points.
•Portland Trail Blazers 99, Utah Jazz 85: Damian Lillard collected 21 points and 10 assists, and the Trail Blazers (17-24) snapped the Jazz’s (17-21) modest two-game success.
•New Orleans Pelicans 109, Sacramento Kings 97: Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon scored 24 points apiece, and the visiting Pelicans (12-26) stopped a four-game slide after routing the Kings (15-23) despite a 32-point, 12-rebound effort by DeMarcus Cousins.

RESULTS
Charlotte     107 Atlanta      84    
Washington 106 Milwaukee 101   
Brooklyn      110 NY Knicks    104   
Boston        103 Indiana      94    
Houston       107 Minnesota    104   
Oklahoma City 108 Dallas       89    
Denver        112 Golden State 110   
Portland      99  Utah         85
New Orleans 109 Sacramento 97
LA Clippers   104 Miami        90