Chalien Dantes/Contributor

Stephen Curry lit up the court for 42 points, including a cold-blooded three that forced overtime, as the Golden State Warriors battled past Aaron Gordon’s monster night and the Denver Nuggets, 137–131, on Thursday (October 23).

Gordon dropped a career high 50, breaking Alex English’s old franchise record for most points in a season opener. He couldn’t miss early, drilling all seven of his threes in the first half and hitting 10 total, tying Terry Rozier’s mark for most in a season debut.

But when the game hit its most chaotic stretch, Curry stole the spotlight. Gordon hit a deep three with 25 seconds left in regulation, only for Curry to answer seconds later with his own long-range dagger. Nikola Jokic’s last-second shot rolled off the rim, sending things to overtime, and that’s when Golden State slammed the door.

The Warriors opened the extra period on a 12–2 burst, kicked off by Al Horford burying a corner three and capped by Jimmy Butler’s step-back triple that put the game out of reach with 41 seconds remaining. Golden State’s 2–0 start to the season is looking sharp.

Jokic still managed a triple-double — 21 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists — joining Oscar Robertson as the only players ever to notch four triple-doubles in season openers.

Denver, playing its first regular-season game later than anyone else in the league, stumbled out of the gate with a 10–0 deficit before roaring back with 12 straight points and controlling most of the first half. Still, even with Gordon’s fireworks, the night belonged to Curry, who once again proved that no lead is safe when he’s got the ball.