With another back-to-back under their belts, the Suns tried their best to hold off a top-tier Western Conference contender. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Nuggets’ interior presence was just too much, as the Nuggets are still stacked with injuries to starters. Even with two players available, it was not enough, as the team fell short 130-112 tonight. With no Mark Williams due to the back-to-back and still managing his injury, this was expected. Sadly, he has yet to play vs the Joker, which has been a massive issue for this team in both games.
Being outrebounded 40-32 wasn’t enough, as the team went cold from the three-point line in the second half. The 11 steals were impactful but not game-changing. Dillon Brooks was the leading scorer with 27 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. He was very effective from mid-range, finding his opportunities and dominating where he thrives. Devin Booker also had 24 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals—some struggling offensive showing for Booker tonight, who was scoreless from three (0/4).
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic was one assist shy of his eleventh triple-double of the season. He had 26 points, nine assists, and ten boards. Jamal Murray was also big with five threes and 24 points of his own, but their best three-point scorer was Tim Hardaway Jr. He had 23 with seven total threes, which was insane to see him on this heater.
First Half
The Suns came out of the gates hot at home, starting a 9-0 run early on in the game.
Sadly, this would be the only quarter they got hot to start, but it was one that many did not expect. To put Denver on their toes early on and find the rhythm from three was key. The Suns had a big quarter from Collin Gillespie, who had four threes to start and was the best offensive player.
With that said, Jamal Murray matched threes and kept the Nuggets alive. That, paired with Nikola Jokic dominating the paint with no Mark Williams, made it tough for the Suns to keep it close. With the threes falling though, they only kept it within five at the end of one
After a hot start, the Suns went cold in the second half. Tim Hardaway Jr. started to find his rhythm for the Nuggets, making tough threes after tough threes, and it was getting scary.
The Suns then had a mini run of their own with an emphatic slam from Grayson Allen, proving the quad injury that had held him back in the last contests is no longer an issue.
With this team being able to be scrappy on the defensive end, forcing turnovers and getting steals, the Suns were able to stay alive even as the Nuggets traded threes back and forth to close out the quarter.
Second Half
For the Suns in the second, the offense could not find a way to get the ball through the net. They were 0/10 from the three-point line to start the third, which was not pleasant. The Suns had some runs of their own to try and crawl back into this one, but it was just not enough.
With the Nuggets continuing to match the Suns’ threes on any run and finding any way to score inside even with Jokic out, it was game over. It is clear that, without Mark Williams, this team lacks some interior rim presence. Nick Richards was not holding his own on the defensive end, and in the fourth, it got out of hand. At some points, the Nuggets had a lead of 20+ points, even with this team’s late fight. We then saw late that the team had waved the white flag, taking the starters out and falling short at home.
Sadly, the exhaustion got to the team late, and it was evident in the lack of aggressiveness compared to the start. Denver is a top-tier team, though, and with the Suns playing to their biggest strength, they held their own. This team has yet to be evaluated at its full potential due to injuries, and coming off a back-to-back in which they fought hard, tonight’s disappointing loss is not as hurtful as in past years.
This team fights and will continue to show that in revenge when they play next. That game is against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday to kick off the new month and some fun basketball before Christmas!