Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both had 27 points each as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-100 on Wednesday night in the NBA’s Christmas games.
Despite missing Devin Booker (groin) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol), the Suns fought hard after being blown out by the Nuggets 117-90 in their previous meeting.
Phoenix held a seven-point lead after three quarters and extended it to 99-81 by the middle of the fourth quarter. They managed to maintain a lead of 15 points and secure the win to break a three-game losing streak.
Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 22 points and Russell Westbrook scored 17.
Jamal Murray, who missed the previous game due to a sprained ankle, recorded 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists in this game.
The Suns started strong, leading by nine points after hitting six of their first seven three-point attempts, setting the tone for a high-scoring first half.
Takeaways
Nuggets: Denver had Jamal Murray back but couldn’t replicate their previous dominant performance. Jokić struggled in the second half, and the team struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 8 of 29.
Suns: Even without key players, the Suns shot 11 of 36 from three-point range. Monte Morris provided a valuable contribution off the bench with 11 points and three assists.
Key moment
The Suns capitalized on Jokic’s absence in the late third quarter and early fourth quarter, expanding their lead before he returned to the game.
Key stat
The Suns excelled in transition, outscoring the Nuggets 15-6 on fast break points.
Up next
Next up, the Nuggets will face Cleveland while the Suns will take on Dallas on Friday.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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