The Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 127-120 on Friday night in Phoenix, opening NBA Cup group play behind 39 points from Jamal Murray and 31 points from Christian Braun. Murray scored 28 points in the second half, Braun hit seven three pointers, and Denver shot 52.6 percent from beyond the arc in the win.
Denver trailed 37-32 after the first quarter, then answered with a 39-30 second quarter to take a 71-67 lead into halftime. Denver stretched the lead to 103-93 after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth, turning back a Phoenix team that could never get the game within one possession down the stretch. Phoenix won the fourth quarter 27-24, but the gap was too large to close, and Denver’s third quarter edge of 32-26 had already put the game in the visitors’ hands.
The win gave Denver consecutive victories for the first time this season and extended the Nuggets winning streak in the series to six games, dating to Christmas Day in 2024. Denver improved to 3-2, while Phoenix fell to 1-3.
Braun heats up early for the Nuggets
Braun poured in 22 points in the first half, shooting 8 of 10 from the field and hitting all six of his three pointers before the break. He finished 11 of 16 from the field and 7 of 9 from three point range, adding three rebounds, one assist and three steals in 37 minutes.
His seventh three pointer gave Denver a 121-110 lead with 2:20 remaining, and that basket ended any real doubt about the outcome. The Nuggets made 13 of 20 three pointers in the first half, shooting 65 percent from deep before the break, and finished 20 of 38 from beyond the arc for the night.
Murray finished 10 of 18 from the field, including 7 of 9 from three point range, and made 12 of 15 free throws. He scored 15 points in the third quarter, when the Nuggets pushed the lead to 103-90 on a short jumper from Nikola Jokic. Murray and Braun combined for 70 points and 14 made three pointers.
Jokic and the Nuggets starters all score
Jokic finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists, and all five Denver starters scored in double figures. Denver moved the ball well enough to keep Phoenix chasing, and the shooting from Murray and Braun gave Jokic room to pick apart the defense from the post and the top of the key.
Phoenix stayed close before halftime thanks to Dillon Brooks, who scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first half, including 4 of 5 from three point range. Brooks was leading the Suns with 22 points when he was ejected in the third quarter after kicking Murray in the groin on a turnaround jumper.
Miles Bridges led Phoenix with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Booker scored 20 points on his 30th birthday, and Collin Gillespie added 16 points and 10 assists off the bench. The Suns made 18 of 42 three pointers, shooting 42.9 percent from deep, and the two teams combined for 38 made three pointers on the night.
Nuggets hold on in the fourth quarter
Phoenix outscored Denver 27-24 in the final quarter, but the Suns could never get the game within one possession down the stretch. The Nuggets answered every push with a basket of their own, and Braun’s late three pointer with 2:20 left pushed the lead back to 11 points.
Denver has now won six straight games against Phoenix, a run that started on Christmas Day in 2024. The win came on the first night of NBA Cup group play, with 20 teams in action across the league. Denver also won consecutive games for the first time this season after splitting its first four games.
Denver hosts Portland on Monday night, and Phoenix visits Golden State on Monday night. The Nuggets will look to keep their shooting form going at home, while the Suns try to climb back after falling to 1-3.