The Denver Nuggets came into tonight riding a five game win streak and playing a tired and injured Phoenix Suns team. The Nuggets weren’t exactly healthy themselves though and were missing both Russell Westbrook and Michael Porter Jr. It didn’t matter much though with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the way. They combined for a big night and Denver used the third quarter to put distance between themselves and the Suns. Denver ends up winning big 122-105.

The Nuggets had their offense going early, particularly Murray who hit his first three shots, all from downtown. Denver got a bit lazy on defense after that and gave up too many opportunities to Phoenix who quickly got back into the game. After Tyus Jones knocked down a wide open corner three to give the Suns the lead Michael Malone took a timeout. Denver started hitting shots again after that with Christian Braun attacking in transition after seemingly every rebound. Denver kept pushing the ball to get the lead back up near ten with the quarter winding down. The Nuggets energy was much better to close the quarter but Jokic got into foul trouble just before it ended. Bol Bol had a highlight play for the Suns with a behind the back pass and Phoenix went on a run in the final minute. At the end of the first it was 37-32.

It was a bit hectic on both sides to start the second quarter but Denver kept the slim lead. Murray stayed hot and helped push Denver in front even more. That let Jokic get some extra rest, he didn’t come back in until the six and a half minute mark with Denver leading by six. He started taking Nick Richards to task but the Nuggets couldn’t build their lead because they kept giving the Suns three point opportunities off of offensive rebounds. Denver kept pushing the pace and eventually got the lead up near ten but Devin Booker wouldn’t let it get too out of hand. The Nuggets went a bit cold at the end of the half and Bol hit a corner three right before it ended to make it a 63-55 Denver lead going to the locker room.

The Nuggets looked a little sluggish to start the second half but kept the lead around eight points. Aaron Gordon started heating up which offset some lacking defense and that kept Denver from pulling away. Braun had a highlight finish on an alley-oop dunk off a Gordon feed midway through the quarter but Denver just couldn’t string together baskets to go on a run. Gordon kept asserting himself, Jokic started dominating the paint and the Nuggets finally pushed the lead up near a dozen. Jalen Pickett had a good shift where he hit back to back threes as Denver kept pushing down the stretch of the third. The lead stayed in double digits with the bench checking in and they even helped grow it a bit. After three Denver was up 98-81.

Malone looked like he was ready to call it a night to start the fourth. He put in Trey Alexander to start the fourth and then Murray hit a three to push the lead to twenty. The offenses started to die a bit after that. Bol had some solid minutes for Phoenix but no one was really hitting shots. Denver went over four minutes without making a field goal but kept their lead near twenty with defense and getting to the free throw line. Julian Strawther knocked down some shots around the midway point of the quarter to finally get the Nuggets some offense while Phoenix stayed cold. After a Murray three put Denver up 21 with just over five minutes to go the Suns relented and emptied their bench. The Nuggets closed out garbage time and leave Phoenix with a 122-105 win.

Secondary scoring has been there

Feb 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

No MPJ tonight might have been cause for concern given how much he’s been scoring lately, but Murray was up to the task of being the primary scorer playing off Jokic. His shooting was on point from the start and he continuously found (and buried) his shot throughout the game. The Nuggets are an absolute nightmare for anyone when they’ve got secondary scoring and playmaking to Jokic and Murray has to be the first option for that. We all know what he’s done in the biggest moments before for this team. It’s looking like he’s gearing up to be at his best when it matters most once again this year and that should make every Nuggets fan excited.

The youth is getting it done

The Nuggets were down three rotation players tonight, which means the trio of Zeke Nnaji, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson, aka the Booth Boys B-Squad, got significant minutes. And you know what? They were fine. Pickett definitely had the best minutes of the three, particularly in the second half, but Tyson and Nnaji survived. At the end of the day, isn’t that really all you can ask out of these guys? They’re not meant to be regular rotation players, they’re meant to be break glass in case of emergency guys. If they can go out and just not screw things up then that’s all you need. They did that tonight and it helped the Nuggets build a lead and secure a victory.