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DEN
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Jokic scores 32 points and the Nuggets rout the Suns 117-90
DENVER (AP) Nikola Jokic scored 13 of his 32 points in a decisive third quarter, and the Denver Nuggets routed the scuffling Phoenix Suns 117-90 on Monday night.
Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting for Denver, which played without guard Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle). The Nuggets have won four of five and they handed Phoenix its third straight loss.
The Suns were missing guards Devin Booker (left groin) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol). They struggled to find scoring outside of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, both of whom had 23 points.
Denver led by four at halftime and outscored Phoenix 45-28 in the third. Jokic, Porter and Russell Westbrook combined to shoot 13 of 17 from the field in the period, and the team was 18 of 28.
The Suns missed eight of their first 12 shots in the third and trailed by 24.
Suns: Jusuf Nurkic has had success guarding Jokic but got into quick foul trouble against his former teammate. Nurkic had four fouls and played just 9:15 in the first half and was ineffective.
Nuggets: With Murray out, coach Michael Malone dipped deeper into his bench and gave little-used guard Jalen Pickett minutes. Pickett scored a career-high 11 points and played 22 minutes after logging a total of 41 in the first 26 games.
Phoenix scored eight straight points to cut into a 24-point deficit before Jokic was fouled on a layup. He missed the free throw, but the Nuggets grabbed the rebound and Hunter Tyson hit a corner 3-pointer to give Denver a 100-79 lead heading into the fourth.
The Nuggets are 4-0 on the second night of back-to-back games.
The teams meet again on Christmas night in Phoenix.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jusuf Nurkic vs. Nikola Jokic (Tyus Jones gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 |  | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:22 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (lost ball) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | ||
| 11:11 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 4-0 |
| 10:53 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 4-2 |
| 10:45 | | Aaron Gordon personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | ||
| 10:33 | | +2 | Tyus Jones makes two point driving floating jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 6-2 |
| 10:25 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:22 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 10:09 | | Tyus Jones turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:51 | | Christian Braun misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:48 | | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point cutting dunk (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 8-2 |
| 9:21 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 8-5 |
| 9:05 | | Bradley Beal misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:02 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 8:48 | | +2 | Tyus Jones makes two point running finger roll layup | 10-5 |
| 8:29 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point pullup jump shot | 10-8 |
| 8:12 | | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Gordon steals) | ||
| 8:00 | | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Tyus Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:40 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | Jusuf Nurkic personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 7:31 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 10-10 |
| 7:14 | | Tyus Jones turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | ||
| 7:00 | | Kevin Durant blocks Aaron Gordon's two point layup | ||
| 6:57 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +3 | Jusuf Nurkic makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 13-10 |
| 6:38 | | Jusuf Nurkic personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 6:38 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:25 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:22 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | Ryan Dunn makes two point running layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 15-10 |
| 5:59 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 15-12 |
| 5:43 | | Mason Plumlee misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 5:41 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 5:37 | | Christian Braun misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 5:33 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 5:32 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot | 15-14 |
| 5:11 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 17-14 |
| 4:50 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 17-16 |
| 4:50 | | Mason Plumlee shooting foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 4:50 | | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-17 |
| 4:35 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 19-17 |
| 4:20 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | 19-19 |
| 4:01 | | Monte Morris misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 3:55 | | Mason Plumlee offensive rebound | ||
| 3:52 | | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Mason Plumlee assists) | 22-19 |
| 3:40 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 3:27 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point driving floating jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 24-19 |
| 2:57 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:54 | | Julian Strawther offensive rebound | ||
| 2:47 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving floating jump shot (Julian Strawther assists) | 24-21 |
| 2:21 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:19 | | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:08 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 2:07 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:03 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 2:00 | | Suns 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:51 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:46 | | Kevin Durant offensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | Kevin Durant turnover (lost ball) (Julian Strawther steals) | ||
| 1:31 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 1:28 | | Peyton Watson offensive rebound | ||
| 1:26 | | +2 | Jalen Pickett makes two point jump shot (Peyton Watson assists) | 24-23 |
| 1:00 | | Peyton Watson blocks Kevin Durant's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:00 | | Royce O'Neale offensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Suns turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 0:46 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot | 24-25 |
| 0:33 | | Monte Morris misses two point jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point stepback jump shot (Jalen Pickett assists) | 24-27 |
| 0:06 | | Peyton Watson personal foul (Take) (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | ||
| 0:02 | | Jalen Pickett blocks Mason Plumlee's two point cutting layup | ||
| 0:02 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Hunter Tyson shooting foul (Mason Plumlee draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | +1 | Mason Plumlee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-27 |
| 0:00 | | +1 | Mason Plumlee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-27 |
| 0:00 | | Jalen Pickett misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:38 | | +2 | DeAndre Jordan makes two point layup (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 26-29 |
| 11:22 | | DeAndre Jordan blocks Royce O'Neale's two point driving layup | ||
| 11:19 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Tyus Jones blocks Christian Braun's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:01 | | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:49 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | Bradley Beal misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Jalen Pickett defensive rebound | ||
| 10:27 | | Jalen Pickett misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | ||
| 10:19 | | DeAndre Jordan shooting foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul) | ||
| 10:19 | | Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:19 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 10:19 | | Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:16 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Peyton Watson turnover (bad pass) (Bradley Beal steals) | ||
| 9:50 | | Bradley Beal misses two point running layup | ||
| 9:47 | | Ryan Dunn offensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | +3 | Tyus Jones makes three point jump shot (Ryan Dunn assists) | 29-29 |
| 9:45 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:33 | | Jalen Pickett misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:30 | | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | ||
| 9:12 | | Tyus Jones misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:09 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point running layup (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 29-31 |
| 9:06 | | Ryan Dunn defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 8:42 | | Suns turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 8:31 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Tyus Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 8:14 | | Josh Okogie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:52 | | +3 | Jalen Pickett makes three point stepback jump shot | 29-34 |
| 7:37 | | +2 | Oso Ighodaro makes two point floating jump shot (Tyus Jones assists) | 31-34 |
| 7:25 | | Josh Okogie personal foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 7:20 | | Jalen Pickett turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:58 | | Kevin Durant misses two point jump shot | ||
| 6:53 | | Jalen Pickett defensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running dunk (Jalen Pickett assists) | 31-36 |
| 6:25 | | Tyus Jones misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:22 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | Christian Braun turnover (lost ball) (Kevin Durant steals) | ||
| 6:14 | | +2 | Tyus Jones makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists) | 33-36 |
| 5:54 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jalen Pickett assists) | 33-38 |
| 5:51 | | Josh Okogie turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 5:40 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Christian Braun assists) | 33-41 |
| 5:39 | | Suns 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:18 | | Josh Okogie misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Hunter Tyson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:01 | | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 5:01 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-42 |
| 5:01 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-43 |
| 4:46 | | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:45 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:14 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 4:01 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 35-43 |
| 3:55 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 3:41 | | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | ||
| 3:41 | | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-43 |
| 3:41 | | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-43 |
| 3:25 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Kevin Durant steals) | ||
| 3:17 | | Russell Westbrook shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | ||
| 3:17 | | Kevin Durant misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 3:17 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 3:08 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:07 | | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point tip layup | ||
| 3:06 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 2:52 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point pullup jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 40-43 |
| 2:52 | | Aaron Gordon personal foul (Away from play) (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | ||
| 2:52 | | +1 | Jusuf Nurkic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 41-43 |
| 2:31 | | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:28 | | Ryan Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 2:23 | | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point pullup jump shot | 44-43 |
| 2:08 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 44-46 |
| 1:58 | | Jusuf Nurkic offensive foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 1:58 | | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:44 | | +2 |