Durant’s Dominance Leads Phoenix Suns to Victory Over Denver Nuggets, 104-97DenverDurant’s Dominance Leads Phoenix Suns to Victory Over Denver Nuggets, 104-97

In his first game against Denver this season, Devin Booker scored 17 points and 9 assists, while Kevin Durant had 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. The visiting Phoenix Suns defeated the Nuggets, 104-97, on Wednesday, March 27.

For Phoenix (43–30), Eric Gordon and Bradley Beal each ended with ten points, while Grayson Allen scored thirteen.

Denver (51-22), who had only lost three times in their previous eighteen games, was led by Nikola Jokic, who finished with 22 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. The visiting Suns have caused two of the losses.

Reggie Jackson ended with 11 points, while Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. each scored 18 points. The Nuggets, who were missing guard Jamal Murray for the third consecutive game due to right knee inflammation, also had 13 points from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Jusuf Nurkic, the center for Phoenix, lost Monday’s Suns game against San Antonio due to an ankle ailment.

Phoenix Suns Maintain Lead Over Denver Nuggets

After trading long runs in the third quarter, Phoenix had a 7-point lead at the half.

With 9:14 remaining in the game, Booker’s two free throws gave the Suns a 71-56 lead against Denver, outscoring them 10-0. 

Phoenix countered with another 10-0 run to extend the lead back to double digits. The Nuggets responded with 12 consecutive baskets, 10 of which came from Jokic, to make it 71-68.

Going into the fourth quarter, Denver was closing the gap to 83-73.

After the Suns took an early 14-point lead in the last 12 minutes, Peyton Watson’s tip-in brought the Nuggets to within eight points with just under seven minutes remaining. Phoenix led 98-83 after 3-pointers from Durant, Allen, and Royce O’Neale.

Denver came within 7 in the closing seconds but was unable to get any closer.

In the first half, Durant scored 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds as the Suns led by as many as 11.

With 1:33 remaining in the second quarter, Porter’s three-pointer gave the Nuggets a two-point lead, but Phoenix closed the half strong to lead 59-52 at the half.