Jamal Murray's 39-point performance helped the Nuggets overcome a strong effort from the Suns, who were led by Miles Bridges' 24 points.
I was blown away by the Denver Nuggets' ability to outlast the Phoenix Suns in this thrilling matchup. The final score was a decisive 127-120 victory for the Nuggets, and it's clear that they were the superior team from start to finish.
Nuggets Ride Murrays 39 Past Suns in Thrilling Win
- Jamal Murray scored 39 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had 5 assists for the Denver Nuggets against the Phoenix Suns.
- Nikola Jokic scored 18 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and had 10 assists for the Denver Nuggets against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns' Struggles
The Phoenix Suns are getting hammered on the boards, grabbing just 39.7 rebounds per game while surrendering 49.3 to their opponents.
The Suns' defense is leaking oil, giving up a staggering 123.7 points per game.
More from BasketballEdit: Spurs Ride Wembanyama's 36 Past Jazz, 117-111 in Overtime
Murray's Dominance
By the Numbers: Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | 32 | 39 | 32 | 24 | 127 |
| Phoenix Suns | 37 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 120 |
Points by quarter
| Player | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | 2 | 9 | 15 | 13 | 39 |
| Christian Braun | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 31 |
| Miles Bridges | Phoenix Suns | 7 | – | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| Dillon Brooks | Phoenix Suns | 12 | 8 | 2 | – | 22 |
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 8 | – | 6 | 4 | 18 |
| Collin Gillespie | Phoenix Suns | 9 | 2 | – | 5 | 16 |
| Aaron Gordon | Denver Nuggets | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
Top 5 by points
| # | Player | Team | Points | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | 39 | 39 pts · 8 reb · 5 ast · FG 10-18 · 37 min |
| 2 | Christian Braun | Denver Nuggets | 31 | 31 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · FG 11-16 · 37 min |
| 3 | Miles Bridges | Phoenix Suns | 24 | 24 pts · 10 reb · 2 ast · FG 10-19 · 37 min |
| 4 | Dillon Brooks | Phoenix Suns | 22 | 22 pts · 1 reb · 2 ast · FG 9-12 · 21 min |
| 5 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 20 | 20 pts · 2 reb · 5 ast · FG 7-19 · 39 min |
Best on the night
- Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets): 39 pts · 8 reb · 5 ast · FG 10-18 · 37 min
- Christian Braun (Denver Nuggets): 31 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · FG 11-16 · 37 min
- Miles Bridges (Phoenix Suns): 24 pts · 10 reb · 2 ast · FG 10-19 · 37 min
Rough night
- Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns): 2 pts on FG 1-6, 2 turnovers, 0 fouls in 25 min
- Oso Ighodaro (Phoenix Suns): 2 pts on FG 1-3, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls in 21 min
- DeMar DeRozan (Denver Nuggets): 3 pts on FG 1-5, 1 turnovers, 3 fouls in 24 min
Fouls
Team fouls: Denver Nuggets 13 · Phoenix Suns 22. Foul trouble: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns, 5).
Injuries and absences
- Alpha Diallo (Denver Nuggets) — Out: Diallo (personal) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Suns.
- Cameron Johnson (Denver Nuggets) — Out: Johnson (ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against Phoenix.
- Spencer Jones (Denver Nuggets) — Out: Jones (hamstring) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against New Orleans.
- Julian Strawther (Denver Nuggets) — Out: Strawther (knee) was diagnosed with a left knee sprain Friday and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports.
- Mark Williams (Phoenix Suns) — Out: Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss an extended period of time, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
- Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- DaRon Holmes II (Denver Nuggets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Bryce Hopkins (Denver Nuggets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Ryan Nembhard (Denver Nuggets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Koa Peat (Phoenix Suns) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Rasheer Fleming (Phoenix Suns) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Duop Reath (Phoenix Suns) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
The Impact on the NBA Playoffs
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this game, but one thing is clear: it's a huge blow to the Phoenix Suns' playoff hopes. With their rebounding woes and defense struggling, they're going to have to regroup and figure out how to stop teams like Denver from dominating them on both ends of the court.
The Suns need to get healthy, but even then, it's going to be tough to catch up with teams that are playing at this level. I'm worried about their chances, but I'm also excited to see how they respond to this setback.
The Nuggets' Rise to Power
The Denver Nuggets are on fire right now, and it's not hard to see why. They've got a talented young core, led by Jamal Murray, who's playing some of the best basketball of his life. Nikola Jokic is still the engine that makes them go.
I love watching these two play together - they're like two peas in a pod on the court. They complement each other so well, and it's amazing to see how they can take over games like this one. The Nuggets are for real, folks, and they're going to be a force to be reckoned with.
But what's really impressive about this team is their depth. Everyone on this team is contributing, and that's what makes them so tough to beat.
