Nuggets Suffer 20-Point Home Defeat as Defensive Concerns Persist Under Adelman

October 27, 2026 Won Jeong

Denver falls 134-114 to Golden State, allowing 74 second-half points and 22 three-pointers

Eighteen months after Michael Malone’s dismissal, Denver’s defensive identity remains a work in progress

This image was generated by AI to help illustrate the article.

(Denver, CO = Won Jeong) The Denver Nuggets suffered a 20-point loss to the Golden State Warriors in their second home game of the season Monday night, raising renewed concerns about their defensive organization early in the 2026-27 NBA campaign.

Denver fell 134-114 to Golden State at Ball Arena on Oct. 26, dropping to 1-2 on the season. The Warriors, who had opened the season with three consecutive losses, earned their first victory.

The Nuggets started strong, taking a 32-28 lead after the first quarter, but gradually lost control of the game. Golden State put together a 10-0 run spanning the final moments of the opening quarter and the beginning of the second, eventually taking a 60-56 lead into halftime.

The decisive stretch came in the third quarter.

Golden State scored 40 points in the period while holding Denver to 28, extending its lead to 100-84 heading into the fourth.

The Nuggets never mounted a meaningful comeback. The Warriors stretched their advantage to as many as 24 points before closing out the 20-point victory.

Denver’s defensive efficiency was the most significant concern.

Golden State shot 46 of 85 from the field (54.1%) and made 22 of 44 three-point attempts, an impressive 50% from beyond the arc.

Denver, meanwhile, connected on just 10 of 29 three-point attempts. The difference in three-point scoring alone amounted to 36 points in Golden State’s favor.

The Warriors also controlled the glass, outrebounding Denver 50-36. Golden State collected 13 offensive rebounds and converted second-chance opportunities into 23 points.

However, Denver did not trail in every defensive category.

The Nuggets recorded 13 steals compared with Golden State’s five and held a 6-2 advantage in blocked shots. Denver also committed fewer turnovers, 11 to the Warriors’ 17.

Those numbers suggest that the Nuggets were capable of creating defensive stops through individual efforts but struggled to consistently limit scoring opportunities and secure defensive rebounds.

Golden State’s ability to repeatedly find space for open perimeter shots raised further questions about Denver’s overall defensive coordination.

Nuggets coach David Adelman pointed to a lack of physicality and poor execution in switching defensive assignments following the loss.

According to Adelman, Denver struggled to defend Golden State’s guard-to-guard pick-and-roll actions.

When defenders failed to apply sufficient pressure at the point of attack, the Warriors were able to create numerical advantages elsewhere on the floor, forcing additional defensive rotations and opening opportunities for perimeter shooters.

Adelman emphasized that his players needed to be more physical and improve their defensive execution.

Denver’s problems extended beyond the inability to contain any single opposing player. The Nuggets struggled collectively to respond to Golden State’s screening actions and off-ball movement.

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Stephen Curry added 24 points while making all eight of his field-goal attempts, including three from beyond the arc. Brandin Podziemski contributed 18 points.

For Denver, DeMar DeRozan led the team with 21 points. Nikola Jokic finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray also scored 19.

Their contributions were not enough to overcome Golden State’s offensive efficiency.

Monday’s defeat was particularly disappointing for Denver’s home supporters.

Just two days earlier, the Nuggets had overcome a 23-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime during their regular-season home opener.

Despite the comeback victory, sections of the home crowd had booed during the game, prompting Jokic to express frustration with the reaction afterward.

Against Golden State, Denver once again surrendered more than 130 points, and some spectators began leaving Ball Arena before the final buzzer.

The frustration was also evident on the court.

With 8:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, Aaron Gordon was ejected after receiving two technical fouls while disputing an officiating decision.

Given Denver’s substantial deficit at the time, Gordon’s ejection was unlikely to have determined the outcome. Nevertheless, the incident reflected the Nuggets’ difficult night.

Denver’s defensive struggles did not begin with Monday’s loss.

The Nuggets finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 54-28 record, placing third in the Western Conference.

Their offense ranked first in the NBA, producing 122.6 points per 100 possessions.

Defensively, however, Denver allowed 117.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking 21st in the league.

The contrast between an elite offense and a below-average defense has renewed questions about the direction of the franchise since its decision to dismiss championship-winning coach Michael Malone in April 2025.

Malone, who had led the Nuggets since 2015, guided Denver to its first NBA championship in 2023.

Yet the organization dismissed him with just three games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season, despite holding a 47-32 record.

The franchise described the decision as part of its effort to improve its championship prospects. General manager Calvin Booth also departed during the leadership shake-up.

Adelman subsequently took over as head coach and led Denver to 54 regular-season victories the following season.

While the Nuggets improved offensively, their defense remained among the league’s weaker units. Denver was eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

The coaching change itself cannot be identified as the sole cause of Denver’s defensive problems.

The Nuggets had also ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency during the 2024-25 season, when Malone coached all but the final three regular-season games.

Nevertheless, the lack of substantial defensive improvement more than a season after the leadership transition remains a legitimate concern for both Adelman and the organization.

Denver attempted to strengthen its defensive depth during the offseason, signing Alpha Diallo and retaining Spencer Jones.

However, neither player was available against Golden State.

Diallo missed the game with a wrist injury, while Jones was sidelined by hamstring issues. Cameron Johnson and Julian Strawther were also unavailable because of injuries.

The absence of several perimeter players capable of contributing defensively limited Adelman’s rotation options.

Still, injuries alone do not fully explain why Denver surrendered 135 points to New Orleans and 134 to Golden State in consecutive home games.

For the Nuggets to remain legitimate championship contenders, they must improve both their defensive organization and their ability to adjust to opposing offensive schemes during games.

With Jokic and Murray leading one of the NBA’s most productive offenses, defensive improvement may be the critical factor in determining whether Denver can return to championship contention.

Adelman acknowledged after Monday’s game that the season remains young and that the team is still working through its problems.

With only three games played in an 82-game regular season, it would be premature to draw conclusions about the Nuggets’ long-term prospects.

But allowing 269 points across their first two home games is a troubling early indication that familiar defensive weaknesses remain unresolved.

Denver’s challenge is no longer proving that it can score. It is building a defensive system capable of turning its offensive firepower into consistent victories.

Three years removed from its championship season, the franchise enters another campaign with a reshaped coaching staff and roster — but with many of the same defensive questions still awaiting answers.