Kevin Durant had 30 factors, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks, and the Phoenix Suns received in Denver for the second time this month, beating the defending champion Nuggets 104-97 on Wednesday evening.
“I’m glad we didn’t let that San Antonio recreation bleed over to the following recreation,” Durant mentioned in reference to the Suns’ street loss Monday evening to a Spurs crew with out rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The Suns, with the hardest remaining schedule within the NBA, moved a half-game forward of Sacramento for the seventh spot within the Western Convention as they attempt to transfer as much as sixth to keep away from a play-in recreation. Dallas is No. 6, a half-game forward of Phoenix.
The Western Convention-leading Nuggets struggled with out start line guard Jamal Murray, who missed his third straight recreation with a sprained left ankle.
Nikola Jokic had 22 factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists as he fought by means of decrease again ache and left hip soreness.
The Nuggets, a half-game forward of Oklahoma Metropolis and Minnesota, misplaced for simply the third time in 18 video games for the reason that All-Star break, and two of these losses have come at residence to the Suns, who prevailed 117-107 in extra time at Ball Area on March 5.
Denver received six straight video games at residence after that, however Wednesday evening have been once more victimized by terrific long-range capturing from the Suns, who made 16 of 33 photographs from behind the arc. Denver was 10 of 40 on 3s.
Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon every added 18 factors for Denver, however the Nuggets’ bench shot simply 5 of 19 and Denver was outrebounded 39-29.
“Not as soon as did I believe these guys are taking part in more durable than us,” Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned. “For many groups, each recreation is a crucial recreation. We’re attempting to maintain the No. 1 seed. You don’t have to return off a foul loss at San Antonio (just like the Suns did) to be in a determined recreation.
“So, I believe our guys undoubtedly performed arduous. May we have now performed higher? After all. And will we have now made extra photographs? That undoubtedly would have helped the result.”
Jusuf Nurkic was out for Phoenix with a sprained proper ankle after the middle was damage within the third quarter of the Suns’ 104-102 loss at San Antonio on Monday evening.
Bradley Beal left that recreation with a sprained proper ring finger, however he began Wednesday evening and sank a trio of 3-pointers within the first quarter, setting the tone for one more scorching capturing efficiency by the Suns, who sank 15 3-pointers at Ball Area of their final go to.
Thad Younger’s fadeaway 6-foot jumper over Jokic’s outstretched arms gave the Suns a 59-52 halftime lead, and Durant scored half of Phoenix’s factors in a 10-0 run the Suns used to take management early within the third quarter.
The Nuggets pulled to 71-68, however they watched the Suns re-establish themselves through a turnaround jumper from Durant and back-to-back 3-pointers from Booker and Eric Gordon that restored Phoenix’s double-digit lead that was by no means actually threatened once more.
“I’d say we didn’t have carryover,” Suns coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “It confirmed up as focus and depth. We all know what’s at stake. We all know what number of video games we have now left. We all know what the schedule seems to be like.
“We nonetheless say we stay assured towards anyone on the schedule, as illustrated by coming in and beating the champs of their constructing. So subsequent recreation up. The competitors is fierce. We’re going to need to repeat this and keep at this stage to proceed to win video games.”