Denver Nuggets Better Than Phoenix Suns Again, This Time After 2OT, 120-112

Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns again headed into overtime to decided the winner, and the guests from Colorado posted a victory, again. Mike Malone’s team defeated the Suns, 120-112 after two overtimes, with Jamal Murray saving them in the regulations.

The young shooting guard hit the game-tying buzzer-beater for 98-all, while being in an extremely difficult position. He was not only having Suns’ center De’Andre Ayton against him but was also in an awkward position.

After that, the Nuggets had a chance to close the game after the first overtime, but Jae Crowder hit a three to tie the match, leaving just 0.7 seconds to go.

“This felt like a playoff game,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “Playing the same team, starters playing in double OT, you ask a lot of your starters and they deliver.”

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Nikola Jokic had the most notable role in the overtime, with the Serbian center scoring 12 of his 29 points during those 10 minutes. He also added 22 rebounds, the highest this season, 6 assists and one steal, shooting 11-for-14 from the free-throw line and 9-for-21 from the field.

Jamal Murray ended the night with 26 buckets, six rebounds, and five assists. He spent the most minutes on the court of all the guests’ players, 43.

Tonight’s game was different than the one on Friday night, with both sides remaining close to one another, and often changing the lead. There were some scoring runs coming from both teams, but nothing that would create a double-digit difference.

JaMychal Green had 16 points off the bench, while Michael Porter Jr. ended the night with a double-double also coming off the bench, 14 points and 11 boards. Monte Morris dropped 13 with four rebounds.

Nuggets had a big advantage on the glass, having 73 rebounds, 17 more than the Suns, who had 56. They also shot threes better, having 15 hits in 36 attempts, while hosts had one three more but in 53 tries.

Phoenix had a huge handicap, as they played without the leading player, Devin Booker, who injured his hamstring the night before. Despite that negative circumstance, the Suns fought bravely, and their head coach Monty Williams had nothing but praises for his boys.

“I was just unbelievably proud of how they competed tonight,” Williams said. “We could have mailed it in coming off a tough one.”

Crowder and Chris Paul scored 21 points each for the home team. Crowder dropped six threes and had seven rebounds, while Paul missed a triple-double for one rebound, as he had 13 assists. Ayton again posted double-double figures with 17 points and 13 boards, and Mikal Bridges contributed with 11 points.

The drop in three-point shooting percentage is reasonable, having in mind that Booker didn’t play. He is one of the best scorers in the league, currently averaging 22.9 points per night.

Also, the suns bench scored just 22 points, while non-starters with their rivals dropped 52 points. It turned out to be a big difference,

After losing the first two of four matches at home, the Suns now have to dig deep against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors. After these events they have three straight on the road, back-to-back in Dallas vs. Mavs and one in New Orleans against the Pelicans.

The Nuggets have three more stops before going home. The next one is in Dallas on Monday night, then in Miami against the Heat, and San Antonio against the Spurs.