Stephen Curry bombed in a game-high 36 points, Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler III combined for 45 more and the Golden State Warriors dumped the Denver Nuggets 118-104 on Friday in San Francisco.

The Warriors (46-31) earned their fifth straight win to climb within a half-game of the fourth-place Nuggets (47-31) in the Western Conference playoff chase.

Golden State is one game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves in its effort to avoid the Western play-in tournament.

Curry shot 7-for-15 from 3-point range and Podziemski 4-for-8 as the Warriors outscored the Nuggets 48-36 from long range. Golden State recorded its first victory over Denver in three tries this season.

A third straight loss dropped Denver four games behind the second-place Houston Rockets with just four games remaining.

Trying to run the Warriors into exhaustion after Golden State endured a six-game trip that ended in a tough win over the Los Angeles Lakers the night before, the Nuggets used a 44-point first quarter to go up by 10.

However, Golden State had its way the rest of the night, with Podziemski chipping in with 26 points to complement Curry’s third straight game with 36 or more.

Podziemski also found time for team highs in rebounds with eight and assists with six for the Warriors, who improved to 21-5 since the acquisition of Butler in February.

Butler had five assists and five steals to go with his 19 points.

Needing depth help on the second night of a back-to-back, Kevon Looney was the Warriors’ top performer off the bench with seven points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.

Going once again without sidekick Jamal Murray, sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 33 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and a game-high nine assists. He hit 13 of his 17 shots and accounted for four of Denver’s 12 successful 3-point attempts.

Michael Porter Jr. backed Jokic with 23 points and nine rebounds, Aaron Gordon had 15 points and eight assists, and Christian Braun amassed 16 points and seven rebounds.

–Field Level Media