Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each tallied 27 points to lead the Phoenix Suns (15-14) to a 110-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets (16-12) on Christmas Day. The Suns snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, despite missing key players Devin Booker and Grayson Allen.
Phoenix controlled the pace of the game, particularly in transition, outscoring Denver 15-6 on fast breaks. The Suns built a seven-point lead by the end of the third quarter and extended it to 18 midway through the fourth. Denver struggled to mount a comeback, as Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets shot just 8-of-29 (27.6%) from beyond the arc.
Jokic led Denver with 25 points and 15 rebounds, but only scored seven points after halftime. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 22 points, while Jamal Murray, who returned after missing Monday’s game with an ankle sprain, added 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
For the Suns, Beal shot an efficient 11-of-21 from the field, including three three-pointers, while Durant made all nine of his free-throw attempts. Tyus Jones chipped in 17 points and hit three of his five attempts from beyond the arc. Monte Morris provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and three assists.
Denver struggled to match the energy of their 117-90 blowout win over the Suns just two nights earlier. The Nuggets’ bench, led by Russell Westbrook’s 17 points, provided some relief, but it was not enough to overcome Phoenix’s balanced attack.
Phoenix finished the game shooting 46.6% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. Despite missing Booker and Allen, the Suns managed to hit 11 three-pointers, while converting 17-of-20 free-throw attempts.
