Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Nuggets take down the depleted Suns in Phoenix

The Nuggets cruised to their sixth consecutive win while facing the Suns minus Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen. Even with key absences to Russell Westbrook and Michael Porter Jr., this was still a tuneup game for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić were unstoppable, but the hosts hung around for a half because they recovered 10 offensive rebounds and made 11 triples in that span.

After the game, Murray was asked what’s different about the team from a month ago. He said they are locked in heading into the All-Star break. “Just playing better and putting the ball in the hoop.”

Murray cracked open the first quarter with three trifectas and dribbled into the lane for his fourth consecutive make. Jokić set up three 3-point baskets and spun plus crashed his way into four paint shots. And Christian Braun scored three baskets in the open court.

Save for some threes, the defense guarded well but didn’t finish the job as the Suns secured seven offensive rebounds to offset their 39% shooting. At the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets led 37-32.

Murray continued raining jumpers, and Christian Braun pressured the Suns on the break with multiple strikes. Jokić checked back in nearly halfway through the second quarter and rampaged until intermission on post-ups through the lane. Devin Booker gave them the most problems in the quarter as he scored from long and close range.

At halftime, the Nuggets led 63-55. The lead in painting points 38-16 and in fast break points 14-2. Yet, they were down in second chance points 12-8.

Then Jokić made four baskets in five tries from short and long distances. Murray and Jalen Pickett were the only other Nuggets to log multiple field goals in the period. Defensively, they held the Suns to 27% 3-point shooting by contesting on time.

The fourth quarter started with the Nuggets up 17 digits. Jokić didn’t have to play the fourth quarter as the Nuggets had a comfortable lead. DeAndre Jordan and Zeke Nnaji worked the power rotation. On top of that, Murray, Braun and Julian Strawther shot the team to the finish line with a combined five baskets, including three triples.

The Nuggets won 122-105. They outscored the Suns in the paint 54-36 and on the break 20-8. The hosts had the edge in second-chance points 23-15.

Play of the game: Braun finished a one-handed jam on a lob from Gordon on the break.

Takeaways:

• Murray had his sixth 30-point game of the season. Five have come since Jan. 14. Interestingly, he was frustrated in pregame warm-ups with his jumper not falling.

• Jokić finished with a Sombor double- 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He made 11 shots in 13 tries.

• Gordon had an off game, shooting 22%, but he still came away 10 rebounds. He still doesn’t have his burst back since coming back from the calf injury. It’s most noticeable on defense when covering the dribble on the perimeter.

• Malone attributed the deficiencies in the rebounding department to ball-watching.

• The Nuggets led the last 46 minutes of the game. Denver’s largest lead was 23 points.

• Picket looked comfortable and made two 3-pointers in the third quarter. After the game, he said he’s been getting pointers from Westbrook.

• This was the Nuggets’ sixth game with nine turnovers or less this season. Their record in those games is 4-2.