'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Phoenix Suns were in Mile High City on Wednesday for their third and final showdown with the Denver Nuggets. Phoenix has had two close encounters with the defending champs this season so they are expecting nothing different tonight. The Suns’ vaunted Big Three were cleared to play so it promised to be a slam-bang affair between two teams that met in last year’s playoffs.
As expected, Durant, Beal and Booker, with a little help from Grayson Allen, gave the visitors a much-needed lift to open the game. Nikola Jokic only had two points, but the Nuggets didn’t need him to score early. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. came out scorching hot to lead the hosts. The first quarter ended knotted at 29 apiece.
Bol Bol came off the bench to give the Suns a spark in the second frame. "KD", Beal and Booker combined for 34 points to continue towing Phoenix in front of the Nuggets.
Denver's offense looked different without Jamal Murray running around Jokic's orbit. Gordon, Porter Jr. and Caldwell-Pope responded to the Suns' Big Three by dropping 35 points of their own. Collin Gillespie also had a Bol-like impact with eight points from the bench.
Phoenix took a 59-52 advantage leading into the halftime break.
The Phoenix Suns tried to pull away at the start of the third period but the Denver Nuggets fought back. But the Suns behind Durant pulling the strings with his playmaking and scoring, kept at it until they finally got a little more separation. "KD" added 11 more points to his 14-point burst in the first half.
Nikola Jokic had 10 points in the third frame to prevent Phoenix from running away. "The Joker" could end up with a triple-double as he already had seven rebounds and nine assists to his tally. The Suns stayed in front 83-73 with the fourth quarter still to come.
The Phoenix Suns played poised basketball and countered every run the Denver Nuggets had in the last 12 minutes. Kevin Durant cooled off a bit but his teammates picked up the slack. Eric Gordon hit some timely buckets while Devin Booker's playmaking kept Phoenix in control of the game.
Reggie Jackson pushed to help close the gap but the Suns couldn't be denied. "The Joker" filled up the stat sheet again but failed to drag his team to victory. Phoenix left Ball Arena with a hard-earned, 104-97 victory.
Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets game player stats and box scores
Phoenix Suns game player stats
Denver Nuggets game player stats
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Nikola Jokic's 3-pointers tonight
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker were quite conservative in their collective 3-point shooting in the first half. They finished the first 24 minutes with a 4-for-8 clip from deep.
Nikola Jokic took only one attempt from long range and missed it.
Durant, Beal and Booker completed the game converting 8-of-17 3-pointers for the Suns. Nikola Jokic was nowhere near as efficient, finishing 1-of-5 for Denver.
Guess the Lakers players!
