{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
Phoenix 104, Denver 97
When: 10:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Officials: #19 James Capers, #64 Justin Van Duyne, #36 Brent Barnaky
Attendance: 19827

Kevin Durant had 30 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots, Devin Booker had 17 points and nine assists in his first game against Denver his season, and the visiting Phoenix Suns beat the Nuggets 104-97 on Wednesday night.

Grayson Allen scored 13 points and Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon finished with 10 each for Phoenix (43-30).

Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for Denver (51-22), which lost for just the third time in 18 games. Two of those losses have been to the visiting Suns.

Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points each, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points and Reggie Jackson finished with 11 points for the Nuggets, who were without guard Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) for the third straight game.

Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic was out with an ankle injury sustained in the Suns' loss at San Antonio on Monday night.

Phoenix led by seven at halftime and the teams traded extended runs in the third quarter.

The Suns outscored Denver 10-0 to go ahead 71-56 on Booker's two free throws with 9:14 left in the period. The Nuggets responded with 12 straight points, 10 by Jokic, to make it 71-68, but Phoenix answered with another 10-0 run to push the lead back to double digits.

Denver cut the deficit to 83-73 heading into the fourth.

The Suns opened the final 12 minutes with two quick buckets to lead by 14, but Peyton Watson's tip got the Nuggets back within eight with just over seven minutes left. Royce O'Neale, Allen and Durant hit 3-pointers to give Phoenix a 98-83 lead.

Denver got within seven in the final minute but couldn't get closer.

Durant had 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half when the Suns led by as many as 11. The Nuggets cut the deficit to two points on Porter's 3-pointer with 1:33 left in the second, but Phoenix finished the half strong to take a 59-52 lead into intermission.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   Denver
Kevin Durant 30 Scoring Nikola Jokic 22
Devin Booker 9 Assists Nikola Jokic 10
Kevin Durant 13 Rebounds Nikola Jokic 9
Devin Booker 5 Free Throws Made Aaron Gordon 3
Grayson Allen 1 Steals Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 2
Kevin Durant 5 Blocks Christian Braun 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Phoenix 104 47.0 16-33 10-11 29 51 7 3 17
Denver 97 43.2 10-40 11-12 24 38 4 9 8
Upcoming Games
  • Denver will play their next game at home against Minnesota. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .692 after a win and .714 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Oklahoma City. The Suns have a W/L % of .581 after a win and .600 after a loss.