Game ID: 22400409
Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 38 20 27 25 110DEN 34 22 22 22 100
DEN @ PHX ScoutingDEN @ 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.
PHX availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Gillespie missed 21 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 34 min since (93% of 36)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 31 min since (132% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/05 after 2, 11 min since (75% of 14)
BACK Bol back 12/05 after 2, 8 min since (64% of 12)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 31 min (98% of 32)
OUT Gillespie missed 22 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 35 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 29 min since (122% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 14 min since (73% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/05 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Gillespie missed 23 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 36 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 31 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 30 min since (126% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 13 min since (69% of 19)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Gillespie missed 24 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 13 min (91% of 14)
OUT Bol missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 37 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 29 min since (121% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 14 min since (71% of 19)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 25 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 17 min since (88% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (91% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 26 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 6 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (111% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (106% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Booker missed 4 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 27 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 7 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (122% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 5 since 12/21, returns tonight: 30 min (82% of 37)
OUT Allen missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 28 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 8 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 21 min since (147% of 14)
NEW Beal 32 to 38 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/04 · 3 days' restOUT Allen missed 5 since 12/23, returns tonight: 31 min (127% of 24)
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 29 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 9 since 12/13, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 12)
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 30 min since (82% of 37)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 22 min since (157% of 14)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 8 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 32 min since (85% of 37)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (98% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 9 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (95% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 10 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 36 min since (97% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (95% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 11 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 12/16, returns tonight: 23 min (183% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 12/16, returns tonight: 4 min (40% of 10)
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (101% of 37)
DEN availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 12 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (101% of 37)
BACK Pickett back 12/23 after 3, 23 min since (183% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 12/23 after 3, 4 min since (40% of 10)
DEN availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 13 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 12/23 after 3, 23 min since (183% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 12/23 after 3, 4 min since (40% of 10)
DEN availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 14 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 12/23 after 3, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 12/23 after 3, 3 min since (28% of 10)
DEN availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 15 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 12/23 after 3, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 12/23 after 3, 3 min since (28% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 16 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 13 min (104% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (33% of 10)
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 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Booker (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Phoenix minus-2 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Denver's 37. Call it Denver 119, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/15 vs POR 116-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 116-109. PHX shot 48% (43 of 89) to POR's 45%, 15 of 39 from three, and went to the line 19 times to POR's 13 — 15 points from the stripe to their 10. Booker led with 28 (7 of 14, 4 of 8 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Durant added 20, Jones 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-21: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Dunn was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/19 vs IND 111-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-120. PHX shot 49% (40 of 82) to IND's 44%, 9 of 30 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to IND's 9, and IND turned those into 9 steals. Durant led with 37 (15 of 27, 3 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Booker added 17, Beal 16. Q4 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 14 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 97-83 against them. Beal's -17 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 vs DET 125-133 — PHX notes
PHX lost 125-133. PHX shot 58% (45 of 78) to DET's 55%, 14 of 29 from three. PHX turned it over 19 times to DET's 13, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 43 (14 of 26, 4 of 9 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Beal added 26, Jones 19. Q2 was theirs, 33-23, the deficit cut from 15 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 110-92 against them. Beal's -15 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ DEN 90-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 90-117. PHX shot 40% (33 of 83) to DEN's 51%, 13 of 33 from three. Beal led with 23 (9 of 17, 5 of 7 from three); Durant added 23. Q1 was theirs, 26-27, but the other 3 periods went 90-64 against them. Jones's -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs DEN 110-100 — PHX notes
PHX won 110-100. PHX shot 47% (41 of 88) to DEN's 46%, 11 of 36 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DEN's 28. PHX turned it over 7 times to DEN's 16. Beal led with 27 (11 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Durant added 27, Jones 17. The hinge was Q3, 27-22: a lead of 2 became 7, and the lead reached 15. Beal was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/27 vs DAL — 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 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Beal at 23 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Allen (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and Irving at 24 a game. Without Hardy (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 115, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/28 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 41 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 20 and Kuminga at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 21 a game. Without Booker (4 straight), Allen (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Golden State's 33. Call it Golden State 112, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/31 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Beal at 23 a game. Without Booker (5 straight), Allen (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Smart (4 straight), Williams Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Memphis 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/04 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Haliburton at 20 and Siakam at 18 a game. Without Nesmith (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (29 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Allen (5 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 122 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-0 a night and Phoenix minus-4. Call it Indiana 115, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/16 @ SAC 130-129 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-129. DEN shot 50% (51 of 102) to SAC's 48%, 10 of 28 from three. The glass went 55-42 for them. Murray led with 28 (11 of 26, 4 of 8 from three); Gordon added 24, Jokić 20. The hinge was Q1, 41-21: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/19 @ POR 124-126 — DEN notes
DEN lost 124-126. DEN shot 54% (47 of 87) to POR's 46%, 15 of 34 from three. Jokić led with 34 (13 of 18, 4 of 6 from three); Murray added 24, Westbrook 19. Q4 was theirs, 37-22, the deficit cut from 17 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. Strawther's -17 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 @ NOP 132-129 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-129 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 51% (49 of 97) to NOP's 46%, 10 of 33 from three, and went to the line 32 times to NOP's 23 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. DEN turned it over 22 times to NOP's 13, and NOP turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 54-43 for them. Jokić led with 27 (11 of 20, 2 of 3 from three); Murray added 27, Westbrook 21. The hinge was Q4, 38-26: DEN came in trailing by 12 and left it level. DEN trailed 59-67 at the half and won the second half 73-62. Strawther was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/23 vs PHX 117-90 — DEN notes
DEN won 117-90. DEN shot 51% (46 of 90) to PHX's 40%, 16 of 41 from three. Jokić led with 32 (12 of 17, 4 of 6 from three); Porter Jr. added 24, Gordon 12. The hinge was Q3, 45-28: a lead of 4 became 21, and the lead reached 28. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/25 @ PHX 100-110 — DEN notes
DEN lost 100-110. DEN shot 46% (36 of 78) to PHX's 47%, 8 of 29 from three, and went to the line 28 times to PHX's 20 — 20 points from the stripe to their 17. DEN turned it over 16 times to PHX's 7, and PHX turned those into 12 steals. Jokić led with 25 (10 of 19, 2 of 7 from three); Porter Jr. added 22, Westbrook 17. Q2 was theirs, 22-20, the deficit cut from 4 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. Murray's -16 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs CLE — 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 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Denver's 117 and the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Denver's 36. Call it Cleveland 118, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
12/28 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 23 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Beasley at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Stewart (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Detroit minus-3. Call it Denver 120, Detroit 117, Detroit keeping it close.
12/30 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without George (4 straight), Collins (3 straight), Hendricks (27 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-10 a night and Denver plus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 118, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.
1/01 vs ATL — 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 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 25 and Hunter at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (2 straight), Bogdanović (4 straight), Gueye (25 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 12 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Atlanta minus-1. Call it Denver 121, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
NU Nurkic
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
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
Durant and Beal score 27 points each, Suns beat Nuggets 110-100 to close out Christmas slate
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each scored 27 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 110-100 on Wednesday night in the nightcap to the NBA’s Christmas slate of games.
The Nuggets blew out Phoenix 117-90 on Monday night in Denver, but the Suns put up much more of a fight despite playing without Devin Booker (groin) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol).
Phoenix led by seven after three quarters and stretched it to 99-81 by the midpoint of the fourth quarter. The Suns pushed the lead to 15 and held off the Nuggets down the stretch to end a three-game losing streak.
Nikola Jokic had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr . added 22 and Russell Westbrook had 17.
Jamal Murray had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists after missing the game Monday game with a sprained ankle.
The Suns led by nine early after making six of their first seven 3-pointers, but the teams traded shots the rest of a hot-shooting first half.
Takeaways Nuggets: Denver got back Murray, but couldn't match the intensity of Monday's blowout. Jokic scored seven points after halftime and the Nuggets shot 8 of 29 from 3-point range.
Suns: Phoenix might have been missing two of its best shooters, but still 11 of 36 from 3-point range. Monte Morris gave the Suns a nice lift off the bench with 11 points and three assists.
Key moment The Suns took advantage of Jokic resting late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, stretching the lead to 12 before he returned.
Key stat The Suns are at their best when they get out in transition and outscored the Nuggets 15-6 on the break.
Up next On Friday, the Nuggets host Cleveland, and the Suns host Dallas.