Golden State Warriors Team Report - December 4

(Basketball News) - The Golden State Warriors were defeated by the Denver Nuggets, 117-109, Wednesday at the Arena.

Speedy Claxton led six Warriors in double-figures with 21 points. Nick Van Exel had 19 points and eight assists and Jason Richardson finished with 17 points.

Erick Dampier had a game-high 18 rebounds to go along with 16 points for Golden State, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Denver led 87-85 after three periods, and the teams stayed close until the latter stages of the fourth. Voshon Lenard scored five straight points to give the Nuggets a 106-100 lead with less than four minutes to go, but the Warriors pulled within two at 106-104 on baskets by Dampier and Sean Lampley with three minutes left.

Carmelo Anthony then knocked down two free throws, but Lampley responded with another basket for the Warriors. Anthony scored again to make it 110-106 with two minutes left, but this time Van Exel dropped a bucket to pull within two.

Then, Anthony made a move into the lane and made a basket while being fouled, and converted the three-point play. At the other end, Richardson missed from the field and Lampley missed two free throws to set up the winning shot, a three-pointer by Lenard that gave the Nuggets a 116-108 lead with 45 seconds to go.

Each team added a free throw down the stretch for the final score.

The Warriors are off until Friday when they visit the Nuggets.