Suns Dominate Nuggets in Thrilling Showdown, Defying Expectations

suns vs nuggets

Phoenix, Ariz. — In a thriller that kept the crowd buzzing until the final horn, the Phoenix Suns toppled the visiting Denver Nuggets 110-106, turning a tense finish into a showcase of resilience and defense. The Suns, who weathered an early Nuggets burst, rode a late run to seal the upset and defy early-season chatter about their ceiling.

Devin Booker led the charge with 32 points, while Kevin Durant added 28 as Phoenix exploited a balanced attack and timely stops. Deandre Ayton contributed 12 rebounds and interior presence, helping to blunt Jokic’s impact when it mattered most. Denver’s Nikola Jokic flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists, but a string of costly turnovers in the closing minutes tipped the scales in Phoenix’s favor. Jamal Murray scored 23 for the Nuggets, who couldn’t sustain their early rhythm.

The decisive stretch came after a grind-and-dodge third quarter, when the Suns locked down on defense and cracked the Nuggets’ pace with precision passes and sharp shooting. A 9-0 run midway through the fourth, capped by Durant’s mid-range jumper and Booker’s back-to-back threes, gave Phoenix a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The bench supplied crucial minutes, with Cam Johnson and Aaron Holiday contributing timely baskets and defense to keep Denver from reclaiming momentum.

Postgame, Suns coach said the plan was simple: stay patient, contest Jokic’s passing lanes, and trust the closing lineup. 'We kept our composure and trusted the process,' he noted. Booker added, 'We found a way to win it together—defensively we stayed committed and took care of the ball when it mattered.'

For the Nuggets, tonight was a reminder that even a club with championship pedigree can be stymied by a balanced, determined opponent on a night when the shots fall late and the stops come at the right moment. With the win, Phoenix reinforces its confidence in a season that’s already shaping up as a test of grit, while Denver leaves with lessons about finishing stronger in crunch time.

Suns Dominate Nuggets in Thrilling Showdown, Defying Expectations

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