125 - 123

Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY

Location: Mortgage Matchup Center

Officials: Nick Buchert, Gediminas Petraitis, and Dannica Baroody

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Denver Nuggets	28	39	30	28	125
Phoenix Suns	35	22	38	28	123

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Denver Nuggets	125	45-88	51.1%	13-32	40.6%	22-30	73.3%	14	60	35	27	2	9	2
Phoenix Suns	123	39-89	43.8%	17-47	36.2%	28-37	75.7%	10	50	24	20	6	3	5

PLAYER STATS


Denver Nuggets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Cameron Johnson^SF	32:40	14	4-9	2-7	4-4	0	3	3	2	1	1	0	5	-12
Aaron Gordon^PF	26:13	16	5-9	1-1	5-10	5	1	6	3	0	0	2	4	-6
Nikola Jokić^C	35:25	23	9-16	0-1	5-7	3	14	17	17	0	0	2	3	-5
Christian Braun^SG	32:27	13	6-10	1-3	0-0	0	3	3	1	0	0	0	3	1
Jamal Murray^PG	37:56	21	7-18	3-9	4-4	0	1	1	6	0	1	2	1	3
Tim Hardaway Jr.	22:48	18	6-12	4-8	2-3	0	3	3	2	0	0	0	1	3
Spencer Jones	21:47	4	2-4	0-0	0-0	3	4	7	0	0	0	1	5	8
Bruce Brown	22:38	9	4-7	1-2	0-0	2	7	9	3	1	0	2	4	6
Julian Strawther	08:04	7	2-3	1-1	2-2	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	12
DaRon Holmes II	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Curtis Jones	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tyus Jones	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Zeke Nnaji	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jalen Pickett	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jonas Valančiūnas	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
David Roddy	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
KJ Simpson	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Peyton Watson	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Phoenix Suns	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Jalen Green^SF	29:06	21	6-13	3-6	6-8	0	6	6	6	0	0	2	2	9
Royce O’Neale^PF	28:09	17	5-8	5-8	2-2	2	3	5	3	1	3	0	4	10
Oso Ighodaro^C	33:41	15	6-7	0-0	3-7	2	4	6	1	1	0	0	4	-7
Devin Booker^SG	34:41	22	5-14	1-4	11-13	1	2	3	8	0	0	0	3	1
Collin Gillespie^PG	27:17	11	4-11	2-7	1-1	1	2	3	1	1	0	0	0	-1
Khaman Maluach	10:50	6	2-3	0-1	2-2	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	5
Jordan Goodwin	26:24	7	3-8	1-5	0-0	2	6	8	2	2	0	1	3	1
Grayson Allen	23:11	21	8-19	5-12	0-0	1	4	5	3	1	0	0	0	-16
Rasheer Fleming	23:07	3	0-6	0-4	3-4	1	3	4	0	0	0	0	2	-12
Jamaree Bouyea	03:31	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Koby Brea	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dillon Brooks	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Amir Coffey	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ryan Dunn	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Haywood Highsmith	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CJ Huntley	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Isaiah Livers	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mark Williams	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Narrow-Theory-3533

101 | 3 hours ago

Denver* Goes up 8 with 3 minutes to go.

Adelman: This is the best time to Hack a Shaq.

I can’t man.

bigbodydenver | Nuggets

41 | 3 hours ago

Completely killed momentum. They were cruising

Id say denver would have a outside shot at title but I think this stewie adelman is in way over his head

Managing the rotation/working refs are big asks for a rookie coach with zero clout with players or league

SplitOk186

13 | 3 hours ago

I mean he doesn’t have any confidence in their defense which is understandable lol

They give up open shots on every single possession

Narrow-Theory-3533

30 | 3 hours ago

They went up 8 because they got stops with their defense and just played the half court. Adelman’s hack a shaq not only disrupted their defense and offense, it also made the refs keep calling the softest whistle.

If he wanted a hack a shaq, he shoudl have played the half court, BURN the clock, and if the defense implodes, foul the poor FT shooter. He hack a shaq from the inbounds with 24 seconds to go. That is just stupid.

Locksmith1778

10 | 3 hours ago

Still can’t tell if the Nuggets are a good team or not. Ceiling is so high because of their offense but they put up a lot of pretty weak defensive efforts

StrikeElectrical9400 | Nuggets

3 | 3 hours ago

Its also shooting variance. We can just shoot 50% from 3 and win every game without giving a flying fuck aboud defence, or we can have games like this

NewConcentrate9682

1 | 3 hours ago

In the postseason we play much better defence than in the regular season, happened last season as well.

However, poor defensive effort in the regular season, especially against bad teams, really hampers our ability to get good seeding.

pmurt007 | Lakers

11 | 3 hours ago

He’s a terrible coach being carried by Jokic.

Inori-Yu | Nuggets

5 | 3 hours ago

Tbf they were fouling a sub 50% free throw shooter. The bad thing is they gave up fouls to good FT shooters.

Refs_Fan

2 | 3 hours ago

He’s sub 50%, but how many times does he get that many free throws to figure it out?

Missing 2 free throws when you only take two is not the same as when you get to shoot a bunch

ThePlainWhiteTees | Nuggets

3 | 3 hours ago

2025 playoffs tricked us man 💔

bigtice | Rockets

2 | 3 hours ago

Was laughing because the announcers were confused for a while trying to figure out what the whistle was for and the replay finally showed Gordon intentionally fouling.

Then they had to start justifying the decision.

9SidedLemon | Nuggets

-1 | 3 hours ago

So dumb if there was like a minute left I’d get it, but 3 minutes left it’s the exact opposite of what you want which is to kill the clock. You’re stopping the clock and giving them a chance to cut deficit even if he missed both which he did once it takes no time off at all.

spiderpigface | Nuggets

3 | 3 hours ago

You can’t hack a Shaq with a minute left lol. That’s the whole strategy, to hopefully keep them to 0 or 1 per possession when you score

Shame_Low | DEN

1 | 14 minutes ago

then why did they stop doing it

Slow-Raccoon-9832

40 | 3 hours ago

The suns have lost by 1,2 and 3 points in their last 4 games

stonkerooni | Suns

23 | 3 hours ago

What’s next a little bit of Monica in your life a little bit a Tina by your side

lethalizered | Thunder

2 | 3 hours ago

Wonderful Lou Bega reference, much appreciated lol

livejamie | Suns

2 | 3 hours ago

No, we blew out Toronto over the weekend

Guardax | Nuggets

34 | 3 hours ago

Just a casual insane statline and game winner from Jokic

Clunkbot | Nuggets

20 | 3 hours ago

Unreal what he did tonight. How many, 17 assists and 17 rebounds?!

KanyeLoveHatesYou | Nuggets

1 | 41 minutes ago

Only one game winner though smh washed

nerdyykidd | Celtics

23 | 3 hours ago

East coast fans will wake up tomorrow and see they missed a classic

Guardax | Nuggets

25 | 3 hours ago

Not really…a lot of free throws down late

nerdyykidd | Celtics

7 | 3 hours ago

Yeah that mid 4th quarter stretch was tough to watch but I thoroughly enjoyed the other 44 minutes

KanyeLoveHatesYou | Nuggets

1 | 41 minutes ago

Classic Jok game though

shangalang69 | Raptors

-1 | 2 hours ago

calling that a classic is disrespectful to classics everywhere

ThePlainWhiteTees | Nuggets

24 | 3 hours ago

The ²⁵⁄₂₆ Nuggets won a clutch game babyyyy. Hanging the banner as we speak

incredibleamadeuscho | Lakers

23 | 3 hours ago

When Jokic had the ball in the end, it was like damn. Best player on the court sometimes just wins you the game.

SnooDonuts9093

7 | 3 hours ago

You should know this well as a lakers fan. (Both Luka and Jokic)

schoolhater12 | Raptors

23 | 3 hours ago

I genuinely think Adelman should be fired. He mismanaged the clutch for the nth time this season. He plays to not lose instead of trying to win basketball game. Was rooting for Suns to win despite the ref favoring them like crazy

9SidedLemon | Nuggets

8 | 3 hours ago

Yeah I really wanted to believe he’s the guy bc of last year bc he talks well but the decisions he makes…

I thought Malone had to go bc he just didn’t make adjustments and was on autopilot but that’s better than making decisions that hurt the team. That hack a shaq shit with 4 minutes was crazy we had the momentum and should’ve been looking to kill the clock not preserve it. The small ball lineups with 6’7 Spencer at center don’t work, and definitely won’t work in the playoffs.

The shot selection as well was just so random the one thing Malone did well was knowing to just get the ball to Jokic in the post and spam the two man game in the clutch, yet we leaned into it way too late.

Shame_Low | DEN

1 | 12 minutes ago

lol the small ball definitely worked and got us back into the game in the second quarter. I agree with the hack a shat, that reeked of desperation

jonsnowKITN

22 | 3 hours ago

I do not like David Adelman.

NewConcentrate9682

6 | 3 hours ago

Saving his challenge for next game

KanyeLoveHatesYou | Nuggets

1 | 40 minutes ago

Yeah thanks for keeping the boat afloat last year as a rookie coach but he needs to go…he just isn’t ready.

jk67200 | Supersonics

23 | 3 hours ago

Soooo is Adelman not a good coach? Because he did not make good coach choices tonight

GoodImprovement8434 | Nuggets

13 | 3 hours ago

he’s definitely been questionable

KanyeLoveHatesYou | Nuggets

2 | 40 minutes ago

Nah we can say it like it is - he has been BAD this year. Come playoff time if he makes these decisions he’s been making all season he has to be out. Jokic’s window is already so small we need everything we can to compete and a good coach is needed.

Abject_Bank_9103

1 | 2 hours ago

Looks like he’s in over his head. Might be one of those guys who’s just more suited to an assistant role.

heat_fan_ | Raptors

24 | 3 hours ago

Jokic coming through in the clutch

Joker is just unreal

Hopsalong | Nuggets

21 | 3 hours ago

Jokic will be hard to explain to people after he retires. Yes really he was slow and fat and he dominated everybody

Longjumping_Club_115

-5 | 2 hours ago

well not everybody

shangalang69 | Raptors

17 | 3 hours ago

that was so unwatchable down the stretch holy fuck

Propuhganduh | DEN

12 | 3 hours ago

Why are these games so late

ValleyRalley | Suns

6 | 3 hours ago

It started at 8 (well, more like 8:15) local time. Just so many free throws

Apotheosis62 | Nuggets

1 | 3 hours ago

It was technically an 8pm tip because Arizona has weird time change laws

HotLiberty | Suns

2 | 3 hours ago

Suns games normally tip off at 7 local time, it was a national game and that forces the late start. We don’t have weird “time change laws”, we just don’t change our time with daylight savings time.

Apotheosis62 | Nuggets

1 | 3 hours ago

I mean weird isn’t a moral judgement its just out of the ordinary with the vast majority of the country. The tip time just sucks 8pm tips suck in general.

HotLiberty | Suns

1 | 3 hours ago

I don’t disagree, but the start time is dictated by the games on the east coast. I just don’t understand what Arizona skipping daylight savings time has to do with anything

itsnotyellowfever | MEM

1 | 3 hours ago

Part of NBC/Peacock’s Coast to Coast Program which basically means every other Tuesday some Pacific Division team gets the luxury of hosting a game at 8 pm local time which sucks if you aren’t on the West Coast

Apotheosis62 | Nuggets

4 | 3 hours ago

It sucks in general nobody wants weekday 8pm west coast games

Whycanyounotsee | Charlotte Bobcats

2 | 3 hours ago

It owns* if you arent on the west coast and if you are on the west coast.

Getting to watch basketball from 7 to 1:30 is dope. You dont have to stay up to watch it but for those of us who are up anyway its great.

AvailableAmount185 | Hornets

1 | 3 hours ago

NBA on NBC.

soft_taco_special | Nuggets

13 | 3 hours ago

This is yet another first game of an away back to back the nuggets have to play in less than 24 hours even though starting it late for no fucking reason puts this game past 1 AM on the east coast. What was the point of this except to fuck our schedule?

greywolf2155 | Supersonics

8 | 3 hours ago

Absolutely horrendous 4th quarter, borderline unwatchable

The NBA needs to figure out some way to fix this, to make the final minutes of a close game more entertaining

Compare this to the other major North American sports, the NBA is easily the least exciting down the stretch of a tight game. I don’t know how to fix it, but they have to do something

Apotheosis62 | Nuggets

2 | 3 hours ago

I know a lot of people don’t watch hockey but comparing the last minutes of a close NHL game to the last minutes of a close NBA game the difference in quality is hilarious

greywolf2155 | Supersonics

2 | an hour ago

Yup. Hockey probably the best

NFL good too, two-minute no-huddle drives are fucking electric. Even if the leading team has the ball, we’re looking for the defense to force a point. And if it’s actually impossible, we kneel it out

MLB bottom of the 9th with a 1-run lead is tense as fuck. Yeah sometimes hopes are low when it’s the bottom of the order, but still there’s a chance. And even then, if the opposing closer has his good shit, at least it goes quick

Soccer probably second-worst, in that the winning team will often park the bus. But at least we know that’s what’s happening, it’s the same as kneeldowns in the NFL

NBA combines the worst of all of them, because we can’t relax, it could go either way … but that result is dependent on a dozen freethrows. It’s like watch someone roll a die a dozen times, knowing the outcome depends on how many 6s come up. Not entertaining

orangesodazz | Nuggets

6 | 3 hours ago

It might be a good time to fire our coach again going into the playoffs, some really questionable decisions down the stretch.

shifty39 | Nuggets

4 | 3 hours ago

Despite the clutch events of these two teams, somebody had to win that game

blueclown562000 | Suns

5 | 3 hours ago

So conflicted, in the finals in fantasy and my opponent has Book while I have Jokic

SpiderGhost01 | Nuggets

4 | 3 hours ago

Thank god the Nuggets won that game.

HotLiberty | Suns

6 | 3 hours ago

disagree

DDBull | Spurs

3 | 3 hours ago

It felt like all missed shots from Suns in the 4th were all in and outs. Ball just didn’t go their way

HB3187 | Nuggets

3 | 3 hours ago

Hardaway caught actual fire in the first half lol

uconn23

4 | 3 hours ago

Does Cam Johnson know how to defend without fouling?

itsnotyellowfever | MEM

3 | 3 hours ago

Spencer Jones also needs to know the answer to this question

tberriman

3 | 3 hours ago

Adelman was one more foul away from signing Ron Artest to a 10-day contract and letting him just throw hands out there, watching the Nuggets does terrible things to my blood pressure

sanjit8103 | Nuggets

3 | 3 hours ago

Knowing how our clutch record is I thought that last shot was going in man.

SnooDonuts9093

3 | 3 hours ago

Adelman doing all he can to ensure we don’t pull it out

Lmnhedz | Thunder

4 | 3 hours ago

Please get rid of David Adelman so yall can get the 3 seed, jfc.

serendipity123C

3 | 3 hours ago

Insane from jokic

Azpilicueta_The_Goat

2 | 3 hours ago

Felt like Suns had 5 billion FT in the fourth

Slow-Raccoon-9832

11 | 3 hours ago

They were intentionally fouling Oso

graphitewolf | West

5 | 3 hours ago

They were hacking the rookie center lmao

ValleyRalley | Suns

7 | 3 hours ago

With respect Oso is in his second year

graphitewolf | West

-3 | 3 hours ago

Damn bro looks like rookie out there

ValleyRalley | Suns

7 | 3 hours ago

Incorrect. Oso has improved immensely since the start of the year. Has quickly become a big part of offensive sets and facilitating. Much more improved aggressiveness at the rim. Would not judge him on this game, although he is a terrible free throw shooter.

schoolhater12 | Raptors

-2 | 3 hours ago

just the casual 20 free throws for you in 1 quarter. The NBA clutch classic. Some of these booker free throws were absurd

graphitewolf | West

6 | 3 hours ago

Just admit you weren’t watching the game lmao, the fouling was their strategy for like 8 minutes

12and4 | Nuggets

7 | 3 hours ago

I can tell you for a fact we were not fouling booker strategically lol

Shame_Low | DEN

1 | 11 minutes ago

Booker had so many soft calls and of course anyone who watched the game knew it was hack a shaq for so many free throws. Still doesn’t excuse the dbook calls though

homerdonutduffdonut | Vancouver Grizzlies

2 | 3 hours ago

Great game

livejamie | Suns

2 | 3 hours ago

Mark Williams and Dillion Brooks can not come back soon enough

Apotheosis62 | Nuggets

1 | 3 hours ago

~~9 pm local tip~~ (I forgot about Arizona’s weird time change laws) the perfect game to call a bunch of soft fouls and hack a shaq!

graphitewolf | West

4 | 3 hours ago

They’re the only normal ones who don’t move for DST

Whycanyounotsee | Charlotte Bobcats

1 | 3 hours ago

Its more that they are offset the most for being pacific time and that aside, some of the state is still mountain time

Probably_Fishing

1 | 3 hours ago

AG with the 5 offensive rebounds.

BigBirdsBrain | Vancouver Grizzlies

1 | an hour ago

Up 8 with 3 mins left and you start stopping the clock… makes zero sense. Just play it out and force them to beat your half-court.

SnooDonuts9093

0 | 3 hours ago

What does Christian Braun do in the half court?

GoodImprovement8434 | Nuggets

1 | 3 hours ago

cuts

AvailableAmount185 | Hornets

-1 | 3 hours ago

Not much.

Technical_Flight629 | Nuggets

-1 | 3 hours ago

Who in the fuck scheduled the multi time MVP and former NBA champ to be in a game that wouldnt end till damn near 2AM est with then having an AWAY back to back?!

HotLiberty | Suns

3 | 3 hours ago

What does the MVP have to do with scheduling? They go easier on the MVPs?

Augchm | 76ers

-2 | 3 hours ago

Not a great game at the end. Denver letting the suns catch up and then the suns with some very questionable play at the end

AvailableAmount185 | Hornets

-3 | 3 hours ago

Good win for Murray & Gordon. But this basketball team lacks energy with Jokic & Adelman.

[deleted]

-14 | 3 hours ago

[deleted]

Available_Story6774 | West

4 | 3 hours ago

The Nuggets finally won a close game lmao.

bdybwyi

3 | 3 hours ago

The Denver Nuggets (45-28) defeat the Phoenix Suns (40-33) with Jokić dropping a 23/17/17 triple-double, 125-123.