PHOENIX — Nikola Jokic had 21 factors and 16 assists, Reggie Jackson added 20 factors and the Denver Nuggets held off the Phoenix Suns 119-111 for a hard-fought victory Friday evening.
Down 17 within the first half, the Suns – on an evening Kevin Durant moved into tenth place on the NBA’s profession scoring record – minimize Denver’s result in 94-91 coming into the fourth.
Phoenix tied it thrice early within the fourth – and the sport stayed inside one possession for a lot of the interval – however Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. have been amongst a number of gamers who made clutch buckets to maintain the Nuggets forward.
Denver has gained 4 straight. All 5 starters – together with Jokic, Jackson, Porter, Justin Holiday and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored not less than 15 factors.
Jusuf Nurkic led the Suns – enjoying with out Devin Booker – with a season-high 31 factors however fouled out after being known as for a cost with 45 seconds remaining, which was upgraded to a Flagrant 1, which means Jokic bought to shoot two free throws. He made one among two for a 115-111 lead and Denver retained possession.
Jokic adopted with a troublesome layup in site visitors with 24.1 seconds remaining to seal it.
PHOTOS: Nikola Jokic has 21 factors, 16 assists, Nuggets maintain off Suns 119-111
Durant added 30 factors however shot simply 8 of 25 from the sector, together with 0 for five within the fourth quarter. Nurkic shot 13 of twenty-two from the sector.
Durant moved in tenth place on scoring record late within the second quarter, driving the baseline for a layup to cross Moses Malone with 27,411 profession factors.
Denver jumped out to a 41-30 lead going into the second quarter after capturing 79.2% (19 of 24) from the sector. The Nuggets settled for a 70-63 benefit at halftime.
Both groups have been lacking key items. The Suns have been enjoying with out Booker (ankle) and Bradley Beal (again) whereas the Nuggets have been with out Jamal Murray (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (heel).
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Sacramento on Saturday evening.
Suns: Host Memphis on Saturday evening.
