Game ID: 22400909
Phoenix Suns @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, March 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
DEN 37 31 34 23 24 149PHX 28 28 35 34 16 141
DEN vs PHX ScoutingDEN vs PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 2/27 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 10 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 31 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (89% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 11 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 13)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 32 min since (96% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (90% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 20 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 13 since 2/01, returns tonight: 17 min (75% of 23)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
DEN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/28, returns tonight: 39 min (128% of 30)
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (75% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 39 min since (128% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 20 min since (90% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Strawther missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 16 min since (69% of 23)
NEW Porter Jr. 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 18 min since (79% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 32 min (104% of 30)
OUT Strawther missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (77% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 15 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 7 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 3 min since (20% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 34 min (104% of 32)
OUT Morris missed 8 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (8% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 2 min since (9% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 10 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 24 min since (75% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/28 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 17)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 2 min (8% of 19)
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 11 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
NEW Bol 12 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 12 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 2 min since (8% of 19)
NEW Bol 12 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Ighodaro missed 4 since 3/04, returns tonight: 28 min (166% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 13 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 1 min since (5% of 19)
NEW Plumlee 18 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 14 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 6 min since (33% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (166% of 17)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 43 percent from three to Denver's 37 and the defense, Denver allowing 115 a night to Phoenix's 123. Call it Denver 121, Phoenix 115.
2/27 @ MIL 112-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 112-121. DEN took 15 more shots (105 to 90), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to MIL's 47%, 9 of 34 from three, and got to the line 11 times to MIL's 28. Jokić led with 32 (13 of 16, 5 of 7 at the line); Murray added 20, Braun 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-24, but the other 3 periods went 97-85 against them. M. Porter Jr.'s -20 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 @ DET 134-119 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-119. DEN shot 56% (47 of 84) to DET's 45%, 17 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 23 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. DEN turned it over 19 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 15 steals. Murray led with 31 (10 of 22, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 28, Braun 23. The hinge was Q3, 39-24: a lead of 5 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/02 @ BOS 103-110 — DEN notes
DEN lost 103-110. DEN took 8 more shots (86 to 78), but shot 48% to BOS's 47%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 27. Murray led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Braun added 24, Jokić 20. Q3 was theirs, 29-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 88-74 against them. Strawther's -18 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 vs SAC 116-110 — DEN notes
DEN won 116-110. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to SAC's 46%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to SAC's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. Westbrook led with 25 (10 of 20, 4 of 7 from three); J. Murray added 24, Jokić 22. The hinge was Q4, 32-17: DEN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 6. DEN trailed 55-65 at the half and won the second half 61-45. J. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/07 vs PHX 149-141 — DEN notes
DEN won 149-141 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 59% (57 of 97) to PHX's 56%, 21 of 40 from three, and got to the line 18 times to PHX's 29. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 22, 3 of 7 from three); Gordon added 27, Braun 25. The hinge was Q1, 37-28: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 38 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, OKC allowing 114 a night to Denver's 120. Call it OKC 122, Denver 116.
3/10 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 41 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Strawther (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it OKC 122, Denver 114.
3/12 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and McDaniels at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 110 a night to Denver's 123. Call it Denver 118, Minnesota 117, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/14 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight), Strawther (5 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and James at 29 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without James (2 straight), Hachimura (7 straight), Hayes (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 114 a night to Denver's 124 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 119, the Lakers 114.
2/27 vs NOP 116-124 — PHX notes
PHX lost 116-124. PHX shot 47% (44 of 94) to NOP's 48%, 20 of 53 from three. Booker led with 36 (13 of 29, 6 of 16 from three); Durant added 28, Jones 15. Q2 was theirs, 32-26, turning a 5-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 98-84 against them. Allen's -22 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs NOP 125-108 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-108. PHX shot 59% (47 of 79) to NOP's 51%, 21 of 40 from three. Bol led with 25 (9 of 12, 5 of 8 from three); Richards added 19, O'Neale 18. The hinge was Q1, 40-18: from level to 22 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/02 vs MIN 98-116 — PHX notes
PHX lost 98-116. PHX shot 44% (35 of 80) to MIN's 42%, 13 of 42 from three. PHX turned it over 20 times to MIN's 8, and MIN turned those into 18 steals. The glass went 57-35 for them. Durant led with 26 (10 of 23, 3 of 9 from three, 3 of 7 at the line); Beal added 18, Booker 17. Q1 was theirs, 34-28, but the other 3 periods went 88-64 against them. They led by as many as 12. Booker's -26 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 vs LAC 119-117 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-117. PHX shot 51% (41 of 80) to LAC's 52%, 14 of 34 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. Durant led with 34 (10 of 22, 4 of 11 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Booker added 17, Richards 16. The hinge was Q4, 43-22: PHX came in trailing by 19 and left it ahead by 2. PHX trailed 49-65 at the half and won the second half 70-52.
3/07 @ DEN 141-149 — PHX notes
PHX lost 141-149 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 56% (51 of 91) to DEN's 59%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 29 times to DEN's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. Booker led with 34 (10 of 19, 5 of 10 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Durant added 29, Plumlee 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-23, the deficit cut from 11 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 126-107 against them. Richards's -19 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 21 and Thompson at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Washington (3 straight), Davis (11 straight), Lively II (24 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Dunn (2 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-13 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Dallas's 31. Call it Phoenix 117, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.
3/10 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Morant at 29 and Bane at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Jackson Jr. (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 121, shooting 54 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Ighodaro (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Memphis's 31. Call it Memphis 121, Phoenix 117, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/12 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Ighodaro (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Phoenix's 124. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 112.
3/14 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and LaVine at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sabonis (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it Phoenix 120, Sacramento 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
CG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
ZN Z. Nnaji
PHX/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Nikola Jokic has 31 points, 22 assists and 21 rebounds in Nuggets' 149-141 OT win over Suns
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 21 rebounds and a career-high 22 assists and the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Phoenix Suns 149-141 in overtime Friday night after losing a 21-point lead.
Jokic became the first NBA player with a triple-double of at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists. He tied his own team record with his 29th triple-double of the season, stretching his career total to 149.
Aaron Gordon made a career-high seven 3-pointers and had 27 points for Denver. Kevin Durant scored 29 points for Phoenix, hitting a 3-pointer at regulation buzzer to send it into overtime.
Jokic opened the extra period with a floater in the lane to spark a 7-0 run. The Nuggets led by 11 after Christian Braun 's dunk and layup with 51 seconds left.
Three nights after overcoming a 23-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117 at home, the Suns trailed 85-64 in the third and cut it to heading into the fourth. They went ahead 122-120 in the final minute, but Denver answered and took a 125-122 lead on Braun's 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left.
Takeaways Suns: Devin Booker scored 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, but was scoreless in overtime. Mason Plumlee had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Nuggets: Denver leads the league in assists at 31 per game and matched that through three quarters and finished with 38.
Key moment Denver outscored Phoenix 12-2 in the first 2:48 of overtime.
Key stat The Nuggets, who entered the night 28th in the NBA in 3-pointers per game with 12, hit that mark on Gordon’s fifth of the night with 4:58 left in the second quarter. They finished 21 of 40.
Up next The Suns are at Dallas on Sunday. The Nuggets play the first of two straight games at Oklahoma City on Sunday night.