Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther will be part of All-Star weekend after being selected to the Rising Stars event as an injury replacement.
Strawther replaces Portland guard Scoot Henderson, who recently injured his ankle. The league announced the change on Wednesday, just before Denver’s game against Portland.
The 22-year-old Strawther has played in 54 games this season, averaging 9.6 points per game. He leads all second-year bench players in total points (479), minutes played (1,112), field goals made (170), and 3-pointers made (79).
Recently, he’s been moved into the starting lineup with Russell Westbrook out due to a hamstring injury. Strawther becomes the 17th Nuggets player to be selected for the Rising Stars game. The last player from Denver to be chosen was Bones Hyland in 2023.
“He fully deserves to be there. The guy is asked to do a ton for a team that is third place in the Western Conference as a second-year player,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said about Strawther. “He’ll have a chance to enjoy it and go out there and show the world what he’s capable of doing. Really excited for Julian, a well-deserved honor.”
Strawther, from Las Vegas, was a first-round pick by Indiana in 2023 after a strong career at Gonzaga. The Nuggets acquired him in a draft-night trade.
Julian Strawther and Toumnai Camara in the 1st half
Denver is 26-8 when Strawther plays more than 20 minutes. He’s also 3-0 when he starts.
“To be around some of the best young players in the NBA, in the world, you look at yourself a little bit differently,” Malone said. “Hopefully he can take some confidence. As I told him when I found out, I said, ‘Hard work pays off.’ That kid works his butt off.”
The Rising Stars game will be held on Friday at Chase Center in San Francisco. The event will feature a tournament with four teams of seven players. Teams will play semifinal games where the first to 40 points wins, and the winners will then compete in a championship game, with the first team to 25 points winning.
The Rising Stars tournament winner will be the fourth team in the All-Star Game, alongside three NBA player teams.
Strawther will be on “Team M,” coached by Mitch Richmond. His teammates include Houston’s Amen Thompson, Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, Portland’s Toumani Camara, New Orleans’ Yves Missi, and two players from Washington, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly.
Nikola Jokić has proven that he is the best player in Denver Nuggets history, but the team isn’t supporting him enough. He was the key player on their only championship-winning team in the 2022-23 season.
Over the past four seasons, Jokić has won three MVP awards and a Finals MVP. Only nine players, including Jokić, have won three MVPs in their careers. He’s still only 29 years old and could add another MVP to his collection this season, but the Nuggets need to improve.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The Nuggets made a big change in the front office during the 2022 offseason when Tim Connelly, the former general manager, left for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Calvin Booth became the new GM and led the Nuggets to their championship win.
Connelly had built the foundation of the team, including drafting Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr., and trading for Aaron Gordon.
Booth took over a team that was ready to compete for a title, and he made smart moves like signing Bruce Brown and trading for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Both players played important roles in the Nuggets’ title win.
However, Booth has made several bad decisions that have hurt the team. One mistake was letting Brown and Caldwell-Pope leave as free agents. He has done a good job keeping the team’s key players but hasn’t adapted well to the new collective bargaining rules.
Booth has also used the team’s limited salary cap poorly. He gave Zeke Nnaji a four-year contract, but Nnaji hasn’t been effective this season.
The Nuggets’ recent signing of Dario Šarić has not worked out either. Šarić has played in fewer than half of the games this season and hasn’t performed well when he has played.
Lack of Production Outside Starters
The Nuggets are off to a mediocre 11-10 start and are currently in ninth place in the tough Western Conference. This is because the players outside of Jokić, Porter Jr., and Christian Braun haven’t been good enough.
While injuries to Murray and Gordon have affected the team, they’ve still lost games they should have won. A loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday made Jokić speak out about the team’s struggles.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray at the court
Having strong bench players is crucial in the NBA. Many players get hurt every season, and having reliable backups is important.
The Nuggets are lacking depth. Some players have been so ineffective this season that they shouldn’t be on the roster. This has become clear during games when the Nuggets are missing several key players.
Murray’s lack of performance is also hurting the team. After having a great season last year, he hasn’t been able to provide the same level of play this season.
With the Nuggets already struggling with depth, having their star point guard not playing well is making things worse.
Nuggets Need a Shake-Up
One thing is clear early in the season – the Nuggets’ roster won’t stay the same by the end of the year.
The team needs to make a trade soon to focus on winning now and making the most of Jokić’s prime years. Jokić is one of the best offensive players in the league, and the team needs to surround him with talented defenders to maximize his abilities.
Brown and Caldwell-Pope were the kind of players who fit that role and helped the Nuggets win the championship.
The front office must focus on giving Jokić the support he needs by adding players who can complement his style of play. The Nuggets still have almost 60 games to figure things out, but if their struggles continue, a trade will be necessary for them to stay in contention for a championship.
Heavy dependence on Jokic a potential downfall
Reliance on Jokić’s Health
The Denver Nuggets heavily rely on Nikola Jokić, whose skill set makes him the focal point of their offense. As a two-time MVP and one of the most versatile players in NBA history, his scoring, facilitating, and rebounding abilities are crucial to the team’s success.
However, any injury to Jokić, particularly in the postseason, would severely impact the Nuggets’ chances of winning.
Predictability and Offensive Limitations
With Jokić as the centerpiece, opponents can develop defensive strategies to limit his effectiveness, especially if other players aren’t consistently stepping up.
This creates predictability, making it easier for defenses to gameplan against the Nuggets. While Jamal Murray and others can contribute, their inconsistencies and injury histories leave the team vulnerable if Jokić is contained.
Playoff Pressure and Sustainability
In the postseason, where matchups intensify, relying so heavily on Jokić becomes a greater risk. The Nuggets’ offensive depth could be exposed if role players fail to deliver.
Despite adding talent like Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon, the long-term sustainability of this reliance on Jokić remains uncertain, particularly under the pressure of high-stakes games.
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone wants his team to understand that they can’t afford to get complacent.
Monday’s game against the struggling Chicago Bulls offers Denver a chance to bounce back after their tough 133-104 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, the first game of their five-game road trip.
Malone described the Timberwolves’ effort as “a lot more physical, a lot more aggressive, a lot more urgent” than Denver’s.
“We kind of showed up like we were a team that was 12-3 in our last 15 games,” he said, “feeling good about ourselves.”
One way to improve is to get Nikola Jokic back to his usual level of play.
Jokic, a regular MVP contender, had an off game by his standards, finishing with 20 points and 11 assists. He only grabbed three rebounds, breaking a streak of five straight triple-doubles.
Jokic scored just seven points after the first quarter.
“We probably could have featured Jok a little bit more in this game,” said his teammate Aaron Gordon. “He came out torching. If he’s doing that, you’ve gotta just feed him.”
The Bulls have struggled, losing eight of their last 10 games, but they are exploring ways to turn things around.
The main focus is reducing turnovers. Chicago had 20 turnovers in their 109-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, with late mistakes preventing them from holding onto a lead they had entering the fourth quarter.
Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
“Some of it to me is just careless; doing stuff that’s not there,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “We get into the lane and then realize — (Saturday) was an example of it — we have a hard time finishing at the basket.
“Certainly you want to get there because it’s a high-percentage shot. But there are times where we’re getting there and there is such a collapsing of the defense and we are in the air. When you’re in the air, it’s really difficult to make plays from there.”
Zach LaVine has been on a hot streak, scoring at least 24 points in four straight games for Chicago. Josh Giddey has also had three straight double-doubles.
Coby White (ankle) has missed the last three games due to injury, and the rest of the team knows they need to step up.
“We have the talent, I feel like, the personnel,” said Lonzo Ball of the Bulls. “We’ve just got to put together 48 minutes. We haven’t done that much this year.”
Monday’s game will be the first matchup of the season between the Bulls and Nuggets, with a return game in Denver scheduled for March 24.
Denver is 7-3 in the last 10 games against Chicago, including two wins last season.
Nikola Vucevic is nearly averaging a double-double (20.1 points and 9.8 rebounds) in his last 10 games against Denver. LaVine has scored over 20 points in six of his last seven games against the Nuggets.
In the first Bulls-Nuggets game last season, Jokic had 28 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. In 15 career games against Chicago, he’s averaging 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists.
The MVP conversation in the NBA is based on two important ideas: the player must make a real difference on the court and improve their team’s performance. These unspoken rules make the MVP race a tough challenge, needing consistency, skill, and a strong impact.
As Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP in the past four seasons, pushes for a fourth award, his outstanding performances are changing how people view the race.
Nikola Jokic’s Push for MVP Success
Jokic, known as “The Joker,” is having his best season yet. As of November 25, his averages are an impressive 30.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game.
His shooting has been outstanding too, with a 56.8% field-goal percentage, 56.3% shooting from three-point range, and 83.5% at the free-throw line. These numbers show that Jokic is not just playing well but is going beyond his usual level.
While Jokic’s Denver Nuggets have a 9-6 record this season, other MVP candidates like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and Jayson Tatum have shown their value through their team’s success.
Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets
SGA’s Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 12-4 record, even though they have played without star center Chet Holmgren for six games. Tatum, on the other hand, has helped the Boston Celtics to a 14-3 record, the second-best in the league.
Jokic’s reliability, a key part of his career, should be acknowledged. He has missed more than 10 games in a season only once in his nine years in the NBA.
However, he recently missed a few games for personal reasons, a short break that critics might look too closely at. Still, his dominance on the court remains clear, and if the MVP vote were held now, Jokic would likely be in first place.
In just 10 games, Jokic has achieved six triple-doubles and nine double-doubles, including a streak of four triple-doubles in a row. He almost extended that streak, with a few games coming very close. This season, he has achieved a 30-point triple-double, a 20-rebound triple-double, and several performances with 16 assists.
Jokic is putting together an incredible season, one that could make him one of the greatest players of all time. If he keeps playing at this level, his Hall of Fame career will add another remarkable chapter.
The San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets will face off for the first time this season, with two games scheduled less than 24 hours apart.
The Spurs will play the Nuggets in Denver on Friday night and then host them in Texas on Saturday night. San Antonio comes into the game fresh off a big win over the Los Angeles Clippers on New Year’s Eve, while the Nuggets won their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
San Antonio enters the new year with a 21-17 record, their first winning record at this point since 2019. Much of this success can be credited to Victor Wembanyama, who leads the team with 25.6 points per game, 10.0 rebounds, and a league-high 3.9 blocks per game.
Although he is still young, Wembanyama, who will turn 21 on Saturday, understands that team success matters more than individual stats.
“Some people care about highlights, but we care here about the record, the win or the loss,” he said. “It is the only stat that matters.”
In addition to Wembanyama, the Spurs have seven players averaging double figures in scoring. Devin Vassell (15.3), Jeremy Sochan (13.9), Keldon Johnson (12.1), and Julian Champagnie (12.1) round out the top scorers.
Denver Nuggets (NBA)
However, Sochan will miss Friday’s game due to low back tightness after leaving the Clippers to win early.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, will be without forward Aaron Gordon for the fifth straight game due to a right calf strain. Denver has struggled defensively in Gordon’s absence, allowing 127.8 points per game during this stretch.
Denver’s defense improved in the second half of their game against Atlanta, holding the Hawks to just 49 points after giving up 71 in the first half.
“We weren’t playing well on the defensive end, we weren’t getting back in transition, there wasn’t enough effort,” said Christian Braun of the Nuggets. “We kind of knew that as players. We just have to stop trying to flip the switch and just set the tone and bring defense every night.”
The Nuggets are currently on a three-game win streak, averaging 135 points per game in victories over the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Hawks. Russell Westbrook, starting in place of Gordon, has contributed a triple-double and a double-double in his last two games.
Westbrook has been averaging 12.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in his first season with Denver. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic continues to make a strong case for the award with 14 triple-doubles, including a 23-point, 17-rebound, and 15-assist performance in the win over the Hawks.
Jokic ranks third in the NBA in scoring (30.7 points), third in rebounding (13.0), and second in assists (9.7). Jamal Murray (19.8 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.8) are the second and third leading scorers for the Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic posted 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 139-120 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. This was his third triple-double in the last four games. The 15 assists were just one short of his season-high of 16, which he has reached twice.
Russell Westbrook contributed 16 points and 11 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored 21 points for Denver, who have now scored over 130 points in four consecutive games.
The Nuggets recorded a season-high 44 assists and completed the season sweep over the Hawks, having previously won 141-111 in Atlanta on December 8.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and nine assists. De’Andre Hunter added 20 points, Vit Krejci scored 14, Zaccharie Risacher finished with 13, and David Roddy chipped in 10 points.
Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks
Denver started strong with 40 points in the first quarter but couldn’t pull away, as Atlanta rallied from a nine-point deficit early in the second to take a 62-57 lead. However, the Nuggets responded and led 74-71 at halftime. Jokic was close to a triple-double at the break with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
The Nuggets took control in the third quarter, with Porter and Murray hitting 3-pointers, and Westbrook adding a driving layup to stretch the lead to 84-75 in the first few minutes. After a brief response from the Hawks, Denver went on an 18-3 run to push the lead to 20.
Jokic added eight points in the final 3:48 and finished his night with a 15th assist to Peyton Watson, who scored 11 points.
The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they are currently on a positive run as they prepare for a New Year’s Day game against the Denver Nuggets.
Atlanta has won four straight games, including a 126-115 victory over Toronto on Sunday to begin a six-game road trip. On Wednesday, they will get another shot at the Nuggets, who beat the Hawks 141-111 on Dec. 8, ending Atlanta’s six-game winning streak.
After a rough start to the season with a 7-11 record, the Hawks have bounced back with 11 wins in their last 15 games. They will look to extend their streak despite being without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who broke his right hand in a game against Miami on Saturday and will have surgery on Thursday.
Nance has played in 15 games this season, averaging 9.5 points, and has been part of trade rumors. Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game.
The Hawks’ recent success has been driven by Trae Young, who leads the team with 22 points and 12.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson is also contributing with 19.9 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game. De’Andre Hunter, coming off the bench, has been a key contributor with 20.6 points per game.
Young spoke highly of Hunter, saying, “We need big moments from certain guys, and Dre has been doing great for us. That’s Sixth Man of the Year right there too. So, we got a couple of guys that can win some awards if we keep winning.”
Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets
On the other side, Denver has been led by Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Injuries have forced him into the starting lineup in 10 of the Nuggets’ 31 games.
Westbrook had a standout performance in Monday’s win against Utah, scoring 16 points on a perfect shooting night (7-of-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line), and he also recorded his 201st career triple-double.
Coach Michael Malone praised Westbrook, saying, “He came here for one reason, that’s to help us win a championship. And he hates to lose. And that’s what I also love about him, is that he’s built the right way. I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”
While Westbrook has stepped up, the Nuggets are led by the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. Jokic recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday and entered Tuesday ranked second in the NBA in scoring (31 points per game), third in rebounds (12.9 per game), and third in assists (9.5 per game). Jokic is once again making a strong case for his fourth MVP award. Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7) are also key scorers for the Nuggets.
In 2023, the Detroit Pistons didn’t secure their first win of December until their last game.
On Saturday night, they have a chance to finish December with a winning record as they complete a four-game road trip in Denver.
Detroit has won the first three games of the trip, including a 114-113 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, thanks to a four-point play by Jaden Ivey with 3 seconds left.
Saturday’s game might be the hardest, as the Pistons will be playing in Denver’s high altitude against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. But Detroit has a rising star in Cade Cunningham, who leads the team in scoring (24.2 points) and assists (9.7) per game.
Cunningham has recorded six triple-doubles this season and six double-doubles in the last eight games, helping Detroit reach 14 wins, matching their total from the 2023-24 season.
“Give him a challenge, and he accepts it,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff about Cunningham. “That’s the thing that, as we’ve gone, I can make a comment to him, whether it be the fourth quarter or halftime or whatever it is, I can make a challenge to him in shootaround about his defensive matchup, whatever it may be, and he can go out and get it done.”
Cunningham is getting plenty of support from his teammates. Ivey is averaging 17.5 points per game, former Nugget Malik Beasley is scoring 16.7 points per game, and Jalen Duren is leading the team with 9.2 rebounds.
Duren will have to face Jokic, who is averaging a career-high 30.5 points per game. He also leads Denver in assists (9.5) and rebounds (12.7).
Detroit Pistons (NBA)
Jamal Murray is the second-highest scorer for Denver with 19.2 points per game, and Michael Porter Jr. (18.4) is third.
The Nuggets won’t have their best defender, versatile big man Aaron Gordon, who will miss his second straight game due to a right calf strain from Wednesday’s 110-100 loss to Phoenix. Gordon had previously missed 10 games earlier this season with the same injury.
Without him, Denver’s defense is even more vulnerable. In their 149-135 loss to Cleveland on Friday, they allowed a season-high in points, with Cleveland shooting 47.9% from 3-point range and 56.8% from the field.
Coach Michael Malone has expressed frustration with his team’s defense, which hasn’t matched their strong offense. Denver is tied for third in the NBA in scoring with 119.6 points per game but is allowing 117.2 points per game.
Malone pointed out that last year, his team was one of the top defensive units, but this season, they’ve dropped to 24th in the league.
“This season, our defense is not where it needs to be,” he said. “Our transition defense, our paint defense, and our second-chance points allowed are all in the bottom five. It’s going to be tough to consistently play well and defend well if you’re getting beaten down the floor, off the dribble, and on the glass every night.”
Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, Jarrett Allen had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Denver Nuggets 149-135 on Friday night.
Evan Mobley added 26 points, Darius Garland contributed 25 points, Caris LeVert scored 13 off the bench, and Dean Wade, who returned after missing one game, finished with 11 points. This victory marked the Cavaliers’ sixth straight win and set a season-high for points.
Nikola Jokic recorded his NBA-best 12th triple-double with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. Jamal Murray also had 27 points and tied his season-high with 11 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. and Peyton Watson each scored 18 for the Nuggets. Denver allowed a season-high in points.
The Nuggets were without Aaron Gordon, who missed the game due to a right calf strain sustained in Wednesday’s 110-100 loss to Phoenix. Russell Westbrook started in his place and scored 11 points, while Julian Strawther added 11 and Christian Braun scored 16.
The Cavaliers led by 15 points at halftime. Denver cut the lead to 12 early in the third quarter, but Cleveland pushed the lead to 96-77 when Mitchell made two free throws with 7:46 remaining in the period.
Donovan Mitchell celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket in the 2nd half
The Nuggets managed to reduce the lead to 107-93 after Braun’s first 3-pointer of the game, but LeVert hit two 3-pointers, boosting Cleveland’s lead to 113-93, and the Cavaliers led 116-101 heading into the final quarter.
With Jokic on the bench, Denver tried to rally in the fourth. Watson hit a 3-pointer and DeAndre Jordan dunked an alley-oop, but Mobley answered with two 3-pointers and two free throws to push the score to 122-108.
Allen’s tip-in and a fastbreak dunk made it 134-115 with 6:41 left, and Cleveland held on to win.
Denver led 53-50 early in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers scored 16 consecutive points to take control. Garland scored nine of his 15 first-half points in the final 7:16, and Mitchell hit two 3-pointers to give Cleveland an 18-point lead.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dominant through the first third of their season and now face one of their toughest stretches as they begin a four-game road trip at the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
This Western Conference trip is Cleveland’s longest of the season so far, and they are currently on a five-game winning streak. The Cavaliers are coming off a close win against Utah without forwards Dean Wade (knee) and Isaac Okoro (shoulder).
Wade might return on Friday, but Okoro is expected to be out for a few weeks due to his right shoulder sprain.
Despite missing these two players in their win over the Jazz, the Cavaliers used a smaller lineup at times but still received strong performances from forward Evan Mobley, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley, the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is having a career-best season with an average of 18.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Mobley has been a strong complement to guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, who have been key to the Cavaliers’ early success.
Mitchell (23.3 points) and Garland (20.4 points) lead the team in scoring, and center Jarrett Allen is averaging a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds), with Mobley adding another layer to a deep team.
“We’ve all said it, for us to be the team we want to be … Evan had to take that step,” Mitchell said recently. “And the best part about it is Jarrett Allen is his biggest cheerleader.”
Friday’s game is the second of two matchups between the teams, and Denver will be looking to even the score after losing 126-114 to Cleveland on Dec. 5.
Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets
Denver star Nikola Jokic had a triple-double in the loss, one of his NBA-leading 11 this season. He now has 141 triple-doubles in his career, ranking third all-time behind Nuggets teammate Russell Westbrook (200) and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (181).
The Nuggets, who have won five of their last seven games, might be without forward Aaron Gordon for this game after he left Wednesday night’s 110-100 loss at Phoenix with a right calf strain.
Gordon had previously missed 10 games this season due to a similar injury.
“Hopefully, Aaron is going to be ready to go for Cleveland, but we’ll have to wait and see these next 24, 48 hours,” said Denver coach Michael Malone.
Gordon is fifth on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game and is their most versatile defender, capable of guarding any position. If Gordon is unable to play, Peyton Watson, the team’s leading shot blocker (0.9 per game), is likely to start.
Jokic leads Denver in scoring (30.7 points), rebounding (12.6), and assists (9.4), continuing to have an MVP-caliber season. However, the Nuggets will need help from Jamal Murray, who is second on the team in scoring at 18.8 points per game, despite dealing with injuries.
Murray missed Monday’s win over Phoenix due to a right ankle sprain and had just 13 points in his return on Wednesday.
“I’m just trying not to use (injuries) as an excuse. Not mention it,” Murray told The Denver Post. “I know I get slack for it, but (I’m) just going out there, and if I’m good enough to play, I play. That’s how I look at it.”
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each scored 27 points, helping the Phoenix Suns bounce back from a heavy loss to the Denver Nuggets earlier in the week, securing a 110-100 victory on Wednesday night.
Tyus Jones contributed 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, and Monte Morris added 11 points off the bench for the Suns, who ended a three-game losing streak. Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 13 rebounds, scored eight points, and dished out six assists, while Durant also had six assists and Beal recorded four steals in the Christmas night game.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points as Denver suffered only its second loss in the past seven games.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench for 17 points and six rebounds, and Jamal Murray had 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Murray had missed the previous game due to an ankle injury when the Nuggets dominated the Suns 117-90.
Phoenix was still without star Devin Booker (groin) for the third straight game on Wednesday, and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) missed his second consecutive game.
The Suns shot 46.6 percent from the field, including 11 of 36 (30.6 percent) from beyond the arc. The Nuggets shot 46.2 percent and made 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from three. Aaron Gordon (calf) left early in the third quarter and did not return.
Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings
Phoenix built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, scoring nine straight points. Beal scored two baskets during the run, and Royce O’Neale hit a three-pointer to give the Suns a 101-87 lead with 6:48 left.
Durant later hit a jumper to extend the lead to 105-90 with 4:34 remaining.
Porter scored four consecutive points, cutting the Suns’ lead to 107-96 with 2:01 left, but Jones responded with a 3-pointer just 21 seconds later, and the Suns held on for the win.
Durant and Beal each had 14 points in the first half, giving Phoenix a 58-56 lead at halftime. Jokic recorded 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half for Denver.
The game was tied at 75 after Westbrook’s basket with 4:10 left in the third quarter. The Suns then ended the quarter with a 10-3 run, leading 85-78, and Mason Plumlee’s three-point play to start the fourth made it a 10-point margin.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each scored 27 points, and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a tough loss to Denver earlier in the week with a 110-100 win against the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Tyus Jones added 17 points, making 7 of 9 shots, and Monte Morris came off the bench to score 11 points. Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 13 rebounds, scoring 8 points and adding 6 assists. Durant also contributed 6 assists, while Beal recorded 4 steals in this Christmas night matchup.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points. Denver, however, lost for only the second time in their last seven games.
Russell Westbrook added 17 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, and Jamal Murray contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists for Denver. Murray had missed Monday’s game due to an ankle injury when the Nuggets dominated the Suns 117-90.
Phoenix played without their star Devin Booker, who has been sidelined for three games due to a groin injury. The Suns shot 46.6 percent from the field, including 11 of 36 (30.6 percent) from three-point range. Grayson Allen also missed his second consecutive game due to concussion protocol.
Kevin Durant tries to defend the ball
The Nuggets made 46.2 percent of their shots, but struggled from beyond the arc, making only 8 of 29 attempts (27.6 percent). Aaron Gordon left the game early in the third quarter with a calf injury and didn’t return.
Phoenix built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run. Beal scored twice during the run, and Royce O’Neale added a 3-pointer, giving the Suns a 101-87 lead with 6:48 left. Durant later hit a jumper to push the lead to 105-90 with 4:34 remaining.
Porter scored 4 straight points to bring Denver closer, making it 107-96 with 2:01 left. But Jones quickly responded with a 3-pointer, and the Suns held on to finish the game strong.
The game was close in the first half, with Durant and Beal each scoring 14 points as Phoenix led 58-56 at halftime. Jokic had 17 points and 8 rebounds by the break.
The score was tied at 75 after Westbrook’s basket with 4:10 left in the third. The Suns ended the quarter with a 10-3 run to lead 85-78 and pushed their advantage to 10 points when Mason Plumlee made a three-point play to start the fourth quarter.
