Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a dominant 117-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, scoring 32 points, including 13 in a decisive third quarter. The victory improved Denver’s record to 16-11, while the Suns fell to 14-14, extending their losing streak to three games.
Despite the absence of Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle), the Nuggets had a strong offensive showing. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points on an efficient 10-of-12 shooting, and Russell Westbrook contributed 11 points, along with seven assists. Denver’s depth was on full display, as bench player Jalen Pickett scored a career-high 11 points in 22 minutes.
Phoenix struggled throughout the game, missing key players in Devin Booker (left groin) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol). Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal carried the offensive load for Phoenix, each scoring 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the Nuggets’ offensive firepower.
The Nuggets led by just four points at halftime, but a dominant third quarter, where they outscored the Suns 45-28, sealed the game.
Phoenix did show some resilience in the final minutes of the third quarter, scoring eight consecutive points to trim Denver’s lead. However, Jokic responded with a layup, and after a missed free throw, Hunter Tyson hit a corner three-pointer to give the Nuggets a 100-79 lead heading into the fourth.
The Suns’ struggles were evident across the board. Outside of Durant and Beal, the team shot just 39.8% from the field and 39.4% from three. On the other hand, Denver shot 51.1% from the floor and made 39% of their three-point attempts.