Big Three absent! Suns stage 17-point comeback to defeat Nuggets, Jokić posts 21+14+9 near triple-double! Murray 2+3+3

The 2024-25 NBA preseason is in full swing, featuring a marquee Western Conference clash where the Denver Nuggets welcome the Phoenix Suns at home. This marks the Nuggets' third preseason outing, following two losses to the defending champion Celtics. The Suns enter their fourth preseason game, having won two and lost one of their prior three. For this game, the Suns' three stars were all unavailable, while the Nuggets deployed their main lineup. The starting rotations indicated a stronger desire to win from the Nuggets.

In the first quarter, Nikola Jokić showcased his dominance inside, making all four of his attempts near the basket and converting three. With his drawing attention and playmaking, other Nuggets players also fired up. They hit five three-pointers from outside, scoring 33 points for the quarter. The Suns, lacking their core leaders, relied more on individual offensive efforts. Their scoring focus was mainly from beyond the arc, shooting 5-of-12 on threes at a rate close to 60%, but they were completely outmatched inside. By the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets had built a 7-point lead.

In the second quarter, the Nuggets increased their outside shooting attempts but struggled with accuracy, making only 3 of 12 shots. Fortunately, their interior efficiency remained high, with Jokić going 4-for-4 under the basket, unstoppable. The Suns balanced their offense better this period, combining inside and outside play. At halftime, the score stood at 51-60.

After switching sides in the third quarter, the momentum shifted dramatically. The Suns began scoring from multiple sources, unleashing a barrage of three-pointers and hitting seven from deep, while also persistently attacking the paint to create chances. Several players posted high scoring numbers in the quarter: O'Neale made 3 of 4 shots for 10 points, plus 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals; Morris shot 4-of-5, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, also scoring 10 points with 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Jokić faced tight defense this quarter, seeing his touch decline with 2-of-8 shooting. The Suns erased a 7-point deficit in this period, and after three quarters the score reached 88-90, entering the fourth with just a 2-point gap.

Starting the final quarter, the Nuggets also pulled all their starters, and the game turned into a battle between reserve units. The score seesawed back and forth until, with about five minutes left, the Suns took the lead. Bol hit a three-pointer to extend the Suns' advantage to 5 points, and Damian Lee added more firepower to widen the margin. Ultimately, despite leading by as much as 13 points, the Nuggets were overwhelmed by a Suns surge in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 17-point comeback. The final score settled at 118-114, handing the Nuggets a third consecutive preseason defeat.

In this game, Jokić played 30 minutes, shooting 9-of-16 for 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. Murray played 18 minutes and 38 seconds, making only 1 of 6 shots for 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Suns had five players score in double figures: Morris with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists; O'Neale with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists.