Diving Into What Worked for Nuggets in Dominant Win vs. Suns

Gordon was at it all night, including another rim-rocker at 5,280 feet above sea level in the fourth quarter. And I haven’t even mentioned his behind-the‐back, no-look lob assist that had us all reeling. Can anyone tell this guy has been playing with teammate Nikola Jokic much? 

Next scoring possession, Jamal Murray attacks the rim head-on. Nuggets up 7–3. Murray also ended the first quarter by nailing a 50-foot heave. Not only that, but he caught fire in the fourth, looking like playoff Jamal just two games in.

The Suns sensed a window early in the fourth, but Murray wasn’t having it. He hit a saucy fadeaway and then, on the very next possession, drained a clean three from deep, which all but ended the Suns' hope.

Christian Braun finished off Denver's fourth scoring possession with a fast-break dunk off a Jokic steal and assist. 9-3 Denver. Braun ended last season with 179 fast-break points—the most in the NBA ahead of guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. He continued that trend on Saturday night with multiple fast-break points and his usual quiet intensity.

So, in the first four scoring possessions, every Nuggets starter but Jokic had already scored. And who, mayhaps, was the man dishing the assists to every single one of those starters? Who else? Nikola Jokic finished the night with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 15 assists in 32 minutes.

Sure, Jokic was in a bit of foul trouble early on and was 0-3 from three-point range, but so what? When you can see everyone on the court with eyes in the back of your head, why not dish it? 

On the role-player front: Jonas Valanciunas rolled in for 12 points in 13 minutes—put-backs, strong defense, a fast-break pass, and seven big boy rebounds. Watching Big Val run the pick-and-roll so well with Murray is a revelation.

Bruce Brown hit a timely three, grabbed a few rebounds of his own. Tim Hardaway Jr. missed twice from deep, then drilled one that mattered. And Peyton Watson wants you to know that the Nuggets’ bench isn’t just filler—they’re difference-makers. Even Spencer Jones, who was in the game for about 30 seconds, helped force a timely Suns 24-second violation with his tenacious D.

If there’s a wrinkle? The third quarter again. Denver gave up five turnovers in that 12-minute span, they allowed too many Phoenix offensive rebounds, watched the Suns score a barrage of three-pointers, and saw them climb back into the game by the early fourth. You can’t do that against good teams and expect to survive—as the Nuggets know too well from their matchup with Golden State on Thursday. 

So here’s what to take away: Denver is already showing early signs that they’re deep. Really deep. They’re also letting teams chip away at their leads, which can’t continue to happen. David Adelman, of course, is still experimenting and we’re still witnessing different looks and line-ups. But overall, Saturday night's performance gives a lot of hope to the entire Centennial State.

More Denver Nuggets Content

• What We Learned From Nuggets' 22-Point Win Over Suns
  
• Nuggets’ David Adelman Stands by Cam Johnson Amid Slow Start
• Nikola Jokic Matches Oscar Robertson's Historic Mark in Nuggets-Warriors
• Nuggets' Injury Report vs. Suns Continues Hopeful Trend
  
• David Adelman Believes Nikola Jokic Can Be NBA’s Next Torchbearer