The Denver Nuggets delivered one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season, defeating the Phoenix Suns 130–112 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Denver improved to 14-5 overall and 8-2 on the road, while Phoenix fell to 12-9 despite a strong individual night from Dillon Brooks.
The visitors gradually pulled away after halftime, outscoring the Suns 67–52 in the second half to seal a comfortable victory.
Nikola Jokic led the charge with a near-perfect shooting display and controlled the tempo throughout the contest.
Jamal Murray added consistent perimeter scoring as Denver shot 58 percent from the field and an elite 58 percent from three-point range.
Phoenix briefly surged in the second quarter but struggled defensively after the break as Denver’s ball movement created open looks.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | 30 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 130 |
| Phoenix Suns | 25 | 35 | 25 | 27 | 112 |
Jokic dominates the interior and playmaking
Jokic finished with 26 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night and went 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
He also recorded nine rebounds and 10 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double in just 31 minutes.
The center repeatedly punished double teams by finding open shooters cutting to the rim and spotting up beyond the arc.
Denver recorded 36 assists as a team, highlighting the offense’s fluid rhythm.
Murray contributed 24 points, including five three-pointers, providing the spacing that allowed Jokic to operate in single coverage.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points off the bench and knocked down seven three-pointers, stretching Phoenix’s defense deep into the fourth quarter.
Key match player statistics
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST | FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | DEN | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7-7 |
| Jamal Murray | DEN | 24 | 3 | 4 | 8-18 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | DEN | 23 | 3 | 0 | 8-14 |
| Dillon Brooks | PHX | 27 | 3 | 2 | 10-18 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | 24 | 4 | 7 | 5-11 |
| Oso Ighodaro | PHX | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4-4 |
Suns rely on Brooks and Booker but fall behind late
Brooks led Phoenix with 27 points and kept the home side competitive early with aggressive drives and mid-range scoring.
Devin Booker added 24 points and seven assists, converting 14-of-15 free throws while orchestrating much of the Suns’ offense.
However, Phoenix shot just 44 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range.
The Suns committed only seven turnovers but could not compensate for Denver’s superior shooting efficiency and rebounding advantage.
Oso Ighodaro provided interior presence with eight rebounds, yet Phoenix struggled to protect the perimeter as Denver hit 22 three-pointers.
Team comparison
| Category | Nuggets | Suns |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 58% | 44% |
| 3-Point % | 58% | 33% |
| Free Throw % | 95% | 77% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 32 |
| Assists | 36 | 23 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 7 |
| Largest Lead | 21 | 8 |
Denver’s offensive precision ultimately overwhelmed Phoenix’s defensive effort.
The Nuggets’ combination of interior dominance and perimeter accuracy proved decisive, especially during a fourth quarter in which they extended the lead to 21 points.
With balanced scoring and elite ball movement, Denver continued its strong road form and reinforced its status as one of the Western Conference’s most efficient attacks.