Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix Suns with dominant performance from Nikola Jokic at Footprint Center By Beatriz
4 min read
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In the early hours of this Wednesday, Denver Nuggets visited Phoenix Suns for the NBA regular season at Footprint Center, at Phoenix, at Arizona. Nikola Jokic commanded the visiting team with a complete performance that secured the victory by 125 to 123. The Serbian center scored the decisive shot with 11.5 seconds left on the clock and helped the team achieve their third consecutive victory.
Jokic’s performance included 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists, achieving his 29th triple-double of the season. Ele made nine of 16 shots from the field and distributed accurate passes throughout the match. Jamal Murray contributed 21 points, six assists and a rebound in the road win.
- Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 points
- Aaron Gordon recorded 16 points
- Cameron Johnson had 14 points
- Christian Braun scored 13 points
These players completed the list of starters and reserves with double-digit scoring and sustained the Nuggets attack throughout the four quarters.
Nuggets’s collective performance in the match
The Denver team alternated moments of advantage and defensive pressure against the Suns attack. The visiting team controlled the pace better in the second quarter and responded to rival attacks in the third period. Jokic acted as the main coordinator of the plays and also recorded a technical foul early in the match after discussion with the referee.
The Nuggets scored 28 points in the first quarter, 39 in the second, 30 in the third and another 28 in the last. Essa distribution allowed the team to maintain the lead in the final stretch and convert the winning basket efficiently. The collective use of shots and rebounds helped overcome the resistance imposed by the home team.
🏀 TUESDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏀
— NBA (@NBA)March 25, 2026
Jokić’s huge triple-double lifts the@nuggetsto a thrilling road win!
Jamal Murray: 21 PTS, 6 AST
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 18 PTS, 4 3PM
Aaron Gordon: 16 PTS, 6 REBhttps://t.co/c1yWo8ky1c pic.twitter.com/3yHDCs33gF
Individual highlights of Suns in defeat
Devin Booker led Phoenix Suns with 22 points, three rebounds and eight assists. Point guard Grayson Allen contributed 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and five three-pointers. Jalen Green also reached 21 points, with six rebounds and six assists.
Suns presented good offensive performance in parts of the match, especially in the first and third quarters. Apesar Furthermore, the team was unable to convert the last possession into points that would change the result. The Nuggets defense limited shooting options in decisive moments and forced errors in quick transitions.
Current position of teams in Conferência Oeste
With the result, Denver Nuggets reached 45 wins and 28 losses, maintaining fourth place in Conferência Oeste. The sequence of three consecutive victories reinforces the team’s consistency in the final stretch of the regular season. Phoenix Suns, in turn, records 40 wins and 33 losses, occupying seventh place in the same conference.
The victory kept Nuggets in the fight for a better position in the playoffs. Suns continues with a campaign that requires attention in the next rounds to guarantee a direct place or advantage in the play-in. Ambas the teams demonstrated balance on the court, but the final detail defined the outcome.
Game schedule for Nuggets and Suns
The Nuggets return to the court this Wednesday, the 25th, to host the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena, at Denver, at 11 pm at Brasília time. The clash against Mavericks represents another important test in the sequence of home games. The team seeks to extend the good phase with the support of the local fans.
The Suns return to play on Saturday, the 28th, against the Utah Jazz again at the Footprint Center, at Phoenix, also at 11pm at the Brasília time. The team will have days to adjust tactical details and seek recovery in the classification. The calendar remains intense for both franchises in the decisive stretch of the season.
Tactical details observed in the confrontation
The Nuggets coach explored the combinations between Jokic and the open wingers to space the court. Passes long and synchronized cuts created constant scoring opportunities. The rotation of players allowed the team to maintain defensive intensity even with high minutes for the main names.
On the Suns side, the attack depended heavily on the creations of Booker and Allen. The team tried to exploit mismatches in the paint, but found resistance in the rebounds of Jokic and Gordon. The match had nine lead changes and ten draws, which reinforces the technical balance between the teams until the final seconds.
Nikola Jokic raised the level of performance in moments of greatest pressure. Seus 17 assists included plays that involved almost the entire Nuggets offensive squad. The Serbian center’s ability to read the game was fundamental to his success on the road against a direct opponent in the conference.
The victory by two points shows the competitiveness of the NBA at this stage of the season. Pequenos adjustments in shooting and rebounding can change the outcome of close games. Teams continue to monitor injuries and physical conditions as they compete for important positions in the table.
