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Kevin Durant shared high praise for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic following the Phoenix Suns’ 110-100 Christmas Day victory, calling him “arguably the best player in the world and a top-10 player of all time.”

Durant and Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 27 points each, compensating for the absence of key players Devin Booker and Grayson Allen.

Jokic continued his stellar season with 25 points and 15 rebounds, but he was held to just seven points in the second half. Denver struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 27.6% (8-of-29), which proved to be a major obstacle in their comeback efforts.

Michael Porter Jr. provided 22 points for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray, returning from an ankle sprain, added 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists. However, their contributions weren’t enough to overcome Phoenix’s balanced attack.

Beal shot an efficient 11-of-21 from the field, connecting on three three-pointers, while Durant remained perfect at the free-throw line, sinking all nine attempts. Tyus Jones chipped in 17 points, hitting three of his five three-point attempts, and Monté Morris added 11 points off the bench.

The Nuggets were unable to replicate their dominant performance from two nights earlier, when they defeated the Suns 117-90. Denver’s bench, led by Russell Westbrook’s 17 points, provided some spark, but the team lacked the efficiency needed to counter Phoenix’s momentum.

Phoenix finished the game shooting 46.6% from the field and hitting 11 three-pointers, despite a subpar 30.6% shooting night from beyond the arc. The Suns also converted 17-of-20 free-throw attempts, which proved pivotal in sealing the victory.

Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, continues to deliver an MVP-caliber season, averaging 30.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 9.7 assists in 37.1 minutes per game. His consistent brilliance earned him Durant’s recognition as one of the all-time greats.

The Suns improved to 15-14 on the season with the win, while the Nuggets fell to 16-12. Both teams remain in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, setting the stage for potential postseason matchups featuring some of the league’s biggest stars.