(AP) PHOENIX — As the Denver Nuggets established a sizable lead in the first half, Nikola Jokic appeared content to dedicate most of his Friday night to setting up baskets with passes left and right.
By the end of the fourth quarter, that lead had all but vanished. At that point, the two-time MVP started to score again.
On a night where Kevin Durant secured his place as the 10th highest scorer in NBA history, the Suns narrowed Denver’s lead to 94-91 as the fourth quarter began.
Throughout the final quarter, Phoenix equalized the score on three occasions, and the game remained within a one-possession difference for much of the period. Despite the Suns’ efforts, players like Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. executed crucial shots, maintaining the Nuggets’ lead.
Denver extended their winning streak to four games, with all five starters contributing at least 15 points each—Jokic, Jackson, Porter, Justin Holiday, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Jackson concluded with an impressive 20 points. Notably, the Nuggets recorded 38 assists with just nine turnovers.
Describing their playing style, Jokic elaborated, “That’s our approach. It becomes much simpler for us to perform well when we connect on shots like that. I believe we create open looks; it’s just a matter of whether we convert them or not.”
Despite missing Devin Booker, the Suns saw a standout performance from Jusuf Nurkic, who scored a season-high 31 points. However, he fouled out after being charged with an offensive foul with 45 seconds remaining, later upgraded to a Flagrant 1. This allowed Jokic to sink two free throws, securing a 115-111 lead for Denver, with one successful free throw.
Jokic then sealed the game with a challenging layup, deftly finishing over three Suns defenders.
“They’re a formidable team,” acknowledged Nurkic. “Credit to them for securing the victory.”
Despite Durant’s 30-point contribution, his shooting struggled, making only 8 of 25 attempts from the field, with a particularly challenging 0-for-10 performance in the second half. In contrast, Nurkic showcased efficiency, completing 13 of 22 shots.
Durant’s ascent continued as he surpassed Moses Malone for 10th place on the scoring record in the late second quarter, maneuvering along the baseline for a crucial basket. Durant concluded the game with a career total of 27,423 points. Notably, Malone, who spent two seasons in the ABA before concluding his NBA career, finished with 27,409 points.
