The Nuggets and Warriors opened the season with a bang, but Denver was on the wrong side of its season opener.

Here are three takeaways from the Nuggets’ 137-131 overtime loss Thursday at the Chase Center in San Francisco:

1. That was always going to be anything but an easy debut for Denver. Playing the Warriors in their home opener after Golden State started the season with a road win over the Lakers on Tuesday is no easy assignment, but the Nuggets also had to deal with outside distraction on the day of their season opener. The news of Chauncey Billups’s arrest for involvement in a fraudulent gambling scheme hit close to home in more ways than one. The Denver native and former Nuggets guard’s younger brother, Rodney, is a first-year assistant for the Nuggets. Rodney was with the team and sat with the other assistants in the second row of the Nuggets’ bench. Nuggets coach David Adelman expressed his support for Rodney during his pregame media availability. The distraction doesn’t excuse blowing a seven-point lead in the final four minutes, but it made an already hard day harder.
2. The Nuggets didn’t just spoil Aaron Gordon’s record night; they wasted one of the most impressive single-game performances from 3-point range in NBA history. Gordon rode a 10-for-11 night from 3-point range to a career-high 50 points on 17 of 21 shooting from the field. It also set a new franchise record for most points scored in a season opener, breaking Alex English’s previous mark. Gordon joined Luke Kennard, Ty Lawson, and Klay Thompson as the only players to go 10 for 11 from deep in a game, matching the most-efficient performance with at least 10 attempts from deep. Gordon did more than answer the question whether last season’s career 3-point shooting season was an anomaly; he put on a show that will long be remembered in Nuggets lore despite the sour ending.
3. Nikola Jokic should be the first person to accept responsibility for the season-opening loss. Jokic missed a makeable shot – especially by his standards – that could’ve ended the game in regulation. After Jokic missed a 3 with Denver down six and a little more than 30 seconds remaining, he watched as Stephen Curry jogged down the court for a layup that officially put the game away. Jokic got his fourth triple-double in a season opener, tying Oscar Robertson’s record, with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, but his usual efficiency was nowhere to be found. He shot 34.8 percent from the field on 23 attempts and went just 2 of 13 from 3-point range. His lone miss on four free throw attempts also cost the Nuggets an opportunity to increase the lead to four with 1:36 left in regulation. It was an unfortunate night for an uncharacteristic performance from the three-time Most Valuable Player.

NUGGETS 137, WARRIORS 131

What happened: Denver wasted little time erasing Golden State’s 10-0 run to start the game and led 70-61 at halftime. Golden State tied the game by the start of the fourth quarter and forced overtime with Stephen Curry’s deep 3 and Nikola Jokic’s missed floater in the final seconds. Golden State finished the final two minutes on a 9-4 run.

What went right: Jamal Murray started to shake the narrative. The notoriously slow starter started hot and finished with 25 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals in 40 minutes of playing time. He shot 11 of 20 from the field.

What went wrong: Stephen Curry scored 35 of his 42 points in the second half and overtime. Despite a cold start, Curry finished 14 of 25 from the field, 6 of 12 from 3 and a perfect 8 for 8 at the foul line.

Highlight of the night: Curry’s 34-foot 3-pointer to force overtime and Aaron Gordon’s perfect start from the 3-point line provided multiple must-see moments.

Up next: The Nuggets’ home opener is a 7 p.m. tip against the Suns on Saturday at Ball Arena.