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Behind 25 points from Wilson Chandler and the second consecutive 20-point game from veteran point guard Jameer Nelson, the Denver Nuggets went into Phoenix and pulled out a 120-114 victory over the Suns.
After jumping out to an 11-0 lead and dictating the flow of the game in the first quarter, the Nuggets used a 14-0 run to start the second highlighted by Nikola Jokic to extend their lead to 20, 63-43 at halftime.
In the first half, Denver played some of their best basketball of the season of both ends of the floor. Emmanuel Mudiay was precise and made simple play after simple play in the halfcourt on his way to 19 points on 5-13 shooting and six assists to only two turnovers. Jokic was impressive as well and appears to be getting back to the level he was playing at to end last season. The second-year big finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes.
Yet, as has been the case with Denver so far this season, nothing comes easy. Phoenix made a change to their lineup to start the third, inserting Alex Len for Marquese Chriss and went on a 12-3 run out of the break to trim the Nuggets’ lead from 20 to 11 in just four minutes.
Phoenix was gradually able to trim Denver’s lead to three points in the third, behind Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker and physical play from Chandler and Len inside, which the Nuggets struggled to respond to.
However, after relinquishing a fourth-quarter lead Friday night against Oklahoma City, Denver didn’t let themselves give away another game where they led for much of today’s 48 minutes. Five straight points from Jamal Murray, who finished with seven points on 3-8 shooting, pushed the Nuggets’ lead back to 11 with 8:08 remaining in the fourth.
Then Chandler, as he’s done countless times already this season, nailed tough shot after tough shot, to extend Denver’s lead to 12 after the Suns had cut back into that margin again. Chandler scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half.
From there, the Nuggets rode Chandler, Jokic and staved off Phoenix’s backcourt of Bledsoe and Booker who combined for 65 of the Suns’ 114 points and actually trimmed Denver’s lead to four points with around 40 seconds left.
The Nuggets were able to hold on after Alex Len’s inexplicable foul with 37 seconds remaining gave allowed Jokic to hit two free throws and Denver pushed their record to 7-10 on the season.
Footnotes
Kenneth Faried scored 14 points to go along with nine rebounds and finished with a +11 plus-minus.
Malik Beasley played six minutes and scored three points on 1-5 shooting. The rookie finished as a team-high plus13.
WHERE/WHEN
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona | November 27, 2016 | Game No. 17
NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME
Chandler once again saved Denver tonight. One reason the Nuggets keep relinquishing their late fourth-quarter leads is that they lack the offensive firepower to get baskets down the stretch or that guy they can throw the ball to on the wing for a high percentage shot. Right now, Chandler is the closest thing they have to that kind of weapon, and he looked the part today, scoring 25 points on an efficient 8-17 shooting to go with eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
BY THE NUMBERS
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Mudiay’s dish to Nurkic
Sweet dish.
Sweet finish.#Nuggets https://t.co/xmOni4LtcF— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 27, 2016
Mudiay attacks and finishes at the rim
Attack.#Nuggets https://t.co/y15YxV33Wg
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 27, 2016
Chandler in his office
The bank is open for Wil!#Nuggets https://t.co/4nHsqrmYc6
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 27, 2016
Chandler from range
Big. Shot.#Nuggets https://t.co/sHohAuhlJz
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 27, 2016
WHAT’S NEXT
The Nuggets return home and hold a two-game set against the Miami Heat Wednesday and the Houston Rockets Friday.
