Everything’s in place for a compelling early-season showdown between the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Thursday night. Stephen Curry and the Warriors just beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119- 109 in their season opener on Tuesday, with Jimmy Butler leading the scoring with 31 points. The Nuggets are playing their first game of the 2025 to 2026 season with their veterans ready to take the court after a full offseason of rest. On that note, let’s discuss injuries, lineups, and other details for tonight’s matchup.

Nuggets vs Warriors: Injury Report

The Denver Nuggets enter this matchup with a clean bill of health as of October 22, 2025. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon are all cleared to play in their season opener after being listed with rest designations during the preseason. The defending champions have their full rotation available for head coach David Adelman, who took over late last season after the team parted ways with Michael Malone. Denver added several key pieces during the offseason, including Cameron Johnson from Brooklyn in a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. the other way, along with veteran center Jonas Valanciunas and Bruce Brown.​

On the other hand, the Golden State Warriors are dealing with three absences for Thursday night, according to ESPN. Moses Moody has been ruled out with a calf injury that kept him sidelined during the preseason. De’Anthony Melton remains out as he continues recovering from knee surgery and is expected to be reevaluated at the end of October. Alex Toohey is also unavailable due to a knee issue that has kept him out since before the preseason began. The Warriors did receive news regarding Al Horford, who will be available Thursday but is scheduled to rest Friday against Portland as part of the team’s load management plan for the 39-year-old center.​

Stephen Curry is fully healthy after dealing with a hamstring strain late last season. Jimmy Butler overcame a minor ankle injury from practice and played 34 minutes in the season opener, going a perfect 16 for 16 from the free-throw line. Jonathan Kuminga is dealing with minor ankle inflammation but is listed as probable and expected to start at power forward.​

Possible starting lineup

The expected starting lineups for both teams feature contrasting styles, with Denver bringing size and versatility while Golden State counters with shooting and veteran experience.

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The Nuggets will feature their

All-Star duo of Jokic and Murray alongside Christian Braun, who just signed a five-year contract extension worth $125 million on October 20. Cameron Johnson makes his debut for Denver after arriving in the trade that sent Porter Jr. to Brooklyn, giving the Nuggets a career 39.2 percent three-point shooter. Aaron Gordon rounds out the starting five at power forward, providing athleticism and defensive versatility.​

Golden State counters with Stephen Curry running the point, flanked by second-year guard Brandin Podziemski. Jimmy Butler starts at small forward in his first full season with the Warriors after joining the team midway through last year. Jonathan Kuminga gets the nod at power forward over Al Horford, who will come off the bench. Draymond Green anchors the defense at center, though his undersized frame at the position could be exploited by Jokic.​

The matchup between Jokic and Green represents the biggest size disadvantage for Golden State. Jokic has averaged 31.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 9.4 assists in his last 10 games against the Warriors. Green started at center in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers, but the Warriors allowed 62 points in the paint and were outrebounded. Al Horford will likely see significant minutes as the backup center to provide another body against Jokic.​

Where to watch the Nuggets vs the Warriors game

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Where to Watch: ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area

Live Stream: Peacock, Fubo, and NBA League Pass

Predictions for tonight’s Nuggets vs Warriors

The Denver Nuggets are positioned as slight favorites to win this game. Betting odds reflect confidence in their roster continuity and historical success against Golden State. Denver has won nine of the last ten meetings between these two teams.

Nikola Jokic’s matchup against the Warriors’ frontcourt is a key factor. His ability to score, rebound, and facilitate puts pressure on Golden State’s interior defense. The Nuggets’ added depth with Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas strengthens their rotation.

Considering the team dynamics and recent history, the prediction is that the Denver Nuggets will secure a road victory. Their size advantage and Jokic’s dominance are expected to be the difference makers in a closely contested game.