National Basketball Association

Everything clicks for Warriors in their 43-point win over Nuggets

Published Jan. 19, 2015 6:52 p.m. ET

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James Michael McAdoo signed a 10-day contract Monday morning after getting called up from the NBA Development League. By late afternoon, he had teammates and fans cheering his debut and went home with the game ball.

That's the kind of season it has been for the Golden State Warriors -- everything's working, and everybody's contributing.

All 13 players on the active roster scored, and the NBA-leading Warriors matched a franchise record with their 16th consecutive home win, whipping the Denver Nuggets 122-79 on Monday.

"I told the guys after the game, `I'm not taking this for granted,'" Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "This is so unique to have a group pull for each other that exhibits the selflessness where, from one night to the next, somebody isn't going to get a lot of points or a lot of shots. And it doesn't seem to bother them."

Which is what made Monday's matinee so special.

The Warriors (33-6) dominated Denver in such impressive fashion that everybody got a chance to shine. Klay Thompson (22 points) and Stephen Curry (20 points and eight assists) led the way, as usual, and the reserves never relented in the fourth quarter.

That included McAdoo, a call-up from the Warriors' D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, who kept the crowd entertained and energized. He threw down a dunk and received a standing ovation after blocking Randy Foye's floater.

"It felt amazing," said McAdoo, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 13 minutes.

The Warriors out did Denver (18-23) in nearly every major category, including shooting percentage (54.3 percent to 34.5 percent), rebounds (53 to 39), assists (30 to 17), blocks (six to three) and steals (10 to nine). The victory topped Golden State's 126-86 win over Philadelphia on Dec. 30 for the largest margin this season.

Denver offered little resistance. Ty Lawson finished with 19 points and six assists, and Jameer Nelson had 14 points and five assists for the Nuggets, who have lost three in a row.

"We didn't compete. We looked like we were scared," said Nuggets coach Brian Shaw. "I'm trying to be guarded in what I'm saying because I don't want to throw anybody under the bus, but I just don't understand how as a team we can't come out and compete when you're playing the best team in the league."

Golden State was playing its fifth game in seven days -- or "6 days," as Kerr called it -- including three of the previous four on the road. In a rare early afternoon start on the holiday honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Warriors showed no signs of wearing down.

The combination of Golden State's smothering defense and offensive efficiency with Denver's poor shooting created the perfect conditions for a blowout -- one that set all kinds of benchmarks.

The Warriors outscored Denver 25-15 in the first quarter, which tied the fewest points the Nuggets had scored in the opening period all season. They began the second quarter on a 22-5 run and carried a 55-28 lead into halftime.

It was the fewest points the Nuggets have scored in a first half since March 2004 and matched the fewest points the Warriors have allowed in any half this season. The Warriors went ahead 85-49 late in the third quarter before Kerr sat most of his starters.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: The fewest points Denver had scored previously in a half this season was 32 against Indiana on Dec. 20, when the Nuggets scored a season-low 76 points. ... Forward Danilo Gallinari sat out for the 14th straight game because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. He could return later this week.

Warriors: Tied the franchise record last accomplished in 1959 -- when the team still played in Philadelphia -- for the most consecutive home wins. They are 18-1 at Oracle Arena this season. ... David Lee scored six points. He needs nine more to reach 10,000 for his career.

STAT OF THE DAY

It was the first time in franchise history the Warriors had 13 players play at least 10 minutes.