DENVER (AP) – Kevin Durant had 30 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks and the Phoenix Suns won in Denver for the second time this month, beating the defending champion Nuggets 104-97 yesterday.
“I’m glad we didn’t let that San Antonio game bleed over to the next game,” Durant said in reference to the Suns’ road loss on Tuesday to a Spurs team without rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The Suns, with the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, moved a half-game ahead of Sacramento for the seventh spot in the Western Conference as they try to move up to sixth to avoid a play-in game. Dallas is number six, a half-game ahead of Phoenix.
The Western Conference-leading Nuggets struggled without starting point guard Jamal Murray, who missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists as he fought through lower back pain and left hip soreness.
Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon each added 18 points for Denver, but the Nuggets’ bench shot just five of 19 and Denver was outrebounded 39-29.
