Golden State up 3-0 in series

DENVER — Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole scored 27 points each, Klay Thompson made six three-pointers on his way to 26 points and the Golden State Warriors muscled past the Denver Nuggets 118-113 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA playoff series.

Draymond Green added a key steal from Nikola Jokic, who finished with 37 points and 18 rebounds, in the final minute and the Warriors closed on a 9-2 run to put the Nuggets on the cusp of elimination.

Golden State can wrap up the series Sunday in Denver. Teams facing a 3-0 deficit in an NBA playoff series are 0-143.

The Nuggets were in control for much of the second half but after Jokic’s finger roll layup put Denver ahead 111-109 with 3:20 left, the Warriors tightened up on defense.

The Nuggets went six consecutive possessions without scoring and Golden State had the game in hand by the time Will Barton’s tip-in with 23 seconds left pulled Denver to 117-113.

Aaron Gordon added 18 points for the Nuggets, who took an 8987 lead into the fourth quarter but lost for the seventh consecutive time in the postseason.

The Nuggets missed their last four shots of the first half and Curry had a three-pointer and a three-point play to push Golden State’s lead to 69-59 at the break. GOLDEN STATE (118)

D.Green 2-6 1-4 6, Wiggins 3-6 1-2 9, Looney 0-0 0-0 0, Poole 9-13 6-9 27, Thompson 10-18 0-0 26, Bjelica 0-2 2-2 2, O.Porter Jr. 3-7 0-0 6, Iguodala 1-1 2-3 4, Curry 9-17 6-8 27, Payton II 4-4 0-0 11. Totals 41-74 18-28 118.

DENVER (113)

Gordon 7-13 3-4 18, Je.Green 1-5 2-2 4, Jokic 14-22 7-9 37, Barton 5-13 0-0 13, Morris 4-11 1-2 10, Ja.Green 1-2 4-4 6, Cousins 3-4 3-3 9, Campazzo 0-0 0-0 0, Forbes 1-2 2-3 5, Hyland 2-6 0-0 5, Rivers 2-2 0-0 6. Totals 40-80 22-27 113. Golden State ...... 34 35 18 31 — 118 Denver.............. 32 27 30 24 — 113 3-Point Goals— Golden State 18-40 (Thompson 6-13, Payton II 3-3, Poole 3-5, Curry 3-9, Wiggins 2-4, D.Green 1-3, O.Porter Jr. 0-3), Denver 11-26 (Barton 3-7, Rivers 2-2, Jokic 2-3, Gordon 1-1, Forbes 1-2, Hyland 1-3, Morris 1-5, Cousins 0-1, Je.Green 0-2). Fouled Out— None. Rebounds— Golden State 30 (Wiggins 6), Denver 44 (Jokic 18). Assists— Golden State 29 (D.Green 10), Denver 25 (Morris 6). Total Fouls— Golden State 25, Denver 26. A— 19,627 (19,520)