Kevin Durant scored 30 factors and Devin Booker added 27 because the host Phoenix Suns prolonged their successful streak to 4 video games with a 100-93 win over the short-handed Denver Nuggets on Friday night time.
Josh Okogie scored 14 factors and Deandre Ayton had 10 rebounds for Phoenix (42-35), which led by as many as 27 halfway by the third quarter earlier than Denver started its comeback. Chris Paul had a game-high 13 assists.
Aaron Gordon led Denver (51-26) with 26 factors and added eight rebounds and 6 assists. Bruce Brown scored 16 factors, Reggie Jackson added 13 and Christian Braun chipped in 11.
The Nuggets performed with out 4 injured starters: Nikola Jokic (proper calf tightness), Jamal Murray (left knee harm administration), Michael Porter Jr. (left heel harm administration) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (non-COVID sickness).
The Nuggets rallied to tug inside 5 factors early within the fourth quarter and trailed 95-91 after Gordon scored with 3:24 left. The groups exchanged baskets earlier than Okogie hit one in every of his 4 3-pointers with 45.8 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Phoenix appeared firmly in management from the outset and led 32-20 after closing the primary quarter on a 12-3 run. Durant and Booker mixed for 21 factors within the interval.
The Suns held a 60-40 benefit on the half after capturing 50 p.c from the sector. Durant scored 19 factors within the half whereas Booker added 18.
Jackson had 13 factors within the first half to guide Denver, which shot 37 p.c from the sector and 1 of 11 (9.1 p.c) from 3-point vary within the half.
Durant, who made his Suns house debut in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, scored with simply over eight minutes left within the third quarter to present Phoenix a commanding 72-45 lead.
Denver battled again and closed the third quarter on a 29-12 run to chop the deficit to 84-74. Zeke Nnaji scored with just below 10 minutes remaining within the contest to make it a five-point recreation.
DeAndre Jordan had a game-high 12 rebounds for Denver, which shot 6 of 26 (23.1 p.c) from 3-point vary and has misplaced two straight following a four-game successful streak.
Phoenix improved to 26-12 at house and recorded its first win over Denver this season after dropping the primary two conferences.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
