Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal scored 27 points apiece and the Phoenix Suns avenged a one-sided loss at Denver earlier this week with a solid 110-100 victory over the visiting Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Tyus Jones added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Monte Morris scored 11 off the bench for the Suns, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Jusuf Nurkic collected 13 rebounds to go with eight points and six assists, Durant added six assists and Beal had four steals in the Phoenix’s Christmas night affair.
Nikola Jokic recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. he added 22 points as Denver lost for only the second time in the last seven games.
Russell Westbrook registered 17 points and six rebounds off the bench and Jamal Murray had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists for Denver. Murray sat out Monday with an ankle injury during the Nuggets’ 117-90 win over the Suns.
Phoenix was without star Devin Booker (groin) for the third straight game on Wednesday.
The Suns connected on 46.6 percent of their shots, including 11 of 36 (30.6 percent) from 3-point range. Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) missed his second straight game.
The Nuggets made 46.2 percent of their shots and were 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from behind the arc. Aaron Gordon (calf) left the game early in the third quarter and did not return.
Phoenix opened up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter when they rattled off nine straight points. Beal made two baskets on the drive and Royce O’Neale hit a 3-pointer as the Suns took a 101-87 lead with 6:48 left in the game.
Durant later buried a jumper to make it 105-90 with 4:34 left.
Porter hit four straight points to bring the Nuggets within 107-96 with 2:01 left, but Jones drained a 3-pointer 21 seconds later and the Suns sealed their surprise victory.
Durant and Beal scored 14 points in the first half as Phoenix led 58-56 at halftime. Jokic had 17 points and eight rebounds in the half for the Nuggets.
The game was tied at 75 after Westbrook’s basket with 4:10 left in the third quarter. The Sun closed the quarter with a 10-3 run leading 85-78 and Mason Plumlee converted a three-point play to open the fourth quarter and make it 10 points.
–Field Level Media
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