The Nuggets used a career game at the foul line by Nikola Jokic, key buckets from Jamal Murray down the stretch and tenacious defense by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to wrap up a 120-114 Christmas Day victory over Golden State.
But from the point of view of Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the Nuggets’ victory was gift-wrapped by an inordinate number of cheap fouls.
“I have no problems with officials themselves. All across the league, we have really good officials,” Kerr said after the Nuggets made 26 of 32 free throws, including an 18-of-18 by Jokic in a game where he shot an ugly 4 of 12 from the floor.