Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman praised his team’s composure after a 125-123 victory against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Center. “I thought the one that killed us was the end of the third. The two turnovers led to six points. We had control of the game,” Adelman said, noting the team’s ability to respond under pressure.
The coach highlighted the importance of execution and patience late in the game. “Even the last play, I thought Jamal was so patient to make the right play at the end. Don’t force something that’s hard,” he said, adding that careful ball movement and decision-making contributed to a quality win.
Adelman detailed his defensive strategy, particularly guarding Suns forward Oso Ighodaro. “We felt like with the lead and going possession by possession, if we took care of the ball… we were just trying to find an advantage somewhere where the ball’s not in their best players’ hands,” he explained.
Nikola Jokic’s performance drew high praise from his coach. “I’ve seen him get 60 and a triple-double, so tonight was pretty light. He was incredible, efficient, just makes the right play for his teammates,” Adelman said. He added that Jokic’s playmaking is unmatched: “He’s the ultimate player that makes everyone feel like they’re part of the game… in my opinion, he’s the best player in the world.”
Adelman also assessed his small-ball rotation, which contributed positively despite missed opportunities. “I thought that unit, we missed a lot of easy shots, bunnies. If we can just be a little more efficient offensively, that allows us to set ourselves defensively,” he said, citing Spencer Jones and Bruce Brown as key contributors.
The Nuggets’ starting lineup showed strong trust and execution in crunch time. “They’re finally getting a chance to play together… I thought we found Nikola in spots late in the clock where we were patient. That’s who we have to be,” Adelman said, emphasizing the value of deliberate decision-making in late-game situations.
Denver has won six of its last eight games and now sits 1½ games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference. Adelman praised the team’s overall growth. “Throughout the year we’ve had issues… we got to just calm down and execute knowing we have great personnel for late game situations,” he said.
The Nuggets return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Suns host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
