Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a made basket against the New York Knicks in the first half at Ball Arena on February 8, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Justin Tafoya/Getty Images/AFP
Monte Morris turned a Nikola Jokic assist into a walk-off 3-pointer Wednesday night as the Denver Nuggets rallied from behind to stun the host Golden State Warriors 117-116 in San Francisco in the first-half finale for both teams.
After leading by as many as 16 points, the Warriors put themselves in a position to win when Stephen Curry turned a short jumper into a three-point play and a 116-114 lead with 5.9 seconds remaining.
But the Nuggets, after advancing the ball with a timeout, inbounded to Jokic on the low left block, and just as it appeared the reigning Most Valuable Player would attempt a game-tying shot that could produce overtime, the talented passer spotted Morris open on the right wing for his game-winner.
MONTE MORRIS KNOCKS DOWN THE #TissotBuzzerBeater, WINNING IT FOR THE @nuggets! #ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/oYHsygvuUK
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2022
The assist was Jokic’s eighth of the game to complement game-highs in points with 35 and rebounds with 17 for the Nuggets, who won for the second time at Golden State this season.
Curry led a balanced attack with 25 points for the Warriors, who nonetheless finished the first half with the second-best record in the NBA at 42-17.
The Warriors, who never led in their December loss to the Nuggets, never trailed this time around until Morris grabbed a long, bouncing rebound and beat the field to the hoop for a layup and a 114-113 lead with 14.9 seconds remaining.
Curry, whose 25 points came despite just 1-for-7 shooting on 3-pointers, countered with his go-ahead hoop, but Morris saved his best for last.
Monte Morris takes us through the play on his #TissotBuzzerBeater to lift the @nuggets to victory! pic.twitter.com/z1XZGiJ8DO
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2022
In winning its third straight game headed into the break, Denver was down 111-103 with 3:07 remaining before employing a hack-a-Looney approach to Warriors big man Kevon Looney. It worked, as Looney missed four of six from the free-throw line, allowing the Nuggets to set up the dramatic finish after hoops by Aaron Gordon and Jokic, the latter making it a one-point game with 37.6 seconds to go.
Hitting four of Denver’s 14 3-pointers, Bryn Forbes backed Jokic for the Nuggets with 22 points off the bench. Morris finished with 13, while Gordon and Austin Rivers had 10 apiece.
Klay Thompson chipped in with 16 points, Jordan Poole 15, Looney 13, Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga 12 apiece and Otto Porter Jr. 10 for Golden State, which lost for the fourth time in its last five games.