\ Too Much Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray in Nuggets wins over short -handed Suns

On By Littum

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The short -handed Phoenix Suns Did not have enough energy or firepower to follow the increase Denver nuggets In Saturday’s 122-105 losses before a sold-out audience of 17,071 at the Footprint Center.

Jamal Murray and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic combined to 56 points in leading Nuggets (34-19) to a sixth equal victory. Murray led all scorers by 30 and went 6-of-9 from 3.

Devin Booker Tempoed Suns (26-26) with 24 points in the second of back-to-back games. When you get out of an overtime win on Friday against Utah, Phoenix drew with as many as 23 points to Nuggets, without Michael Porter Jr. (Hamstring).

Kevin Durant (ankle) and Bradley Beal (toe) remained out of Suns, while Grayson Allen missed Saturday’s match with his left knee -soreness after being the hero of Friday’s overtime win over Utah.

Allen hit seven 3s on Friday including one at the Summer to complete regulation and forced overtime. Durant has missed Phoenix’s last three games, while Beal hasn’t played the last two.

Here are takeaways from Saturday’s loss as Suns returns to action on Tuesday against Memphis (35-17) to end a three-match homeland.

Play-in Suns?

Currently ninth in the West, Phoenix had to win two matches in the play-in tournament just to get the playoffs if they started today.

Suns has 31 games to rise over these unwanted one-and-made conditions.

Just look at the seven to 12 teams – Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

Suns are actually 7-4 against these team-clippers (3-0), Mavs (2-1), Warriors (2-1), Kings (0-2) and Spurs (1-0)-but these troops have made some major changes.

Mavs traded Luka Doncic and acquired Anthony Davis, who released 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks of 31 minutes of his Dallas debut on Saturday.

However, Davis left the game with Quad and Linksting. He has had a story of injuries.

He is doing well. So will Mavs, who beat Houston, 116-105, like Max Christie, who also came over from Lakers, 23 from the bench.

Kawhi Leonard still rounds off in form of clippers who landed Ben Simmons after he cleared exceptions.

Warriors got the guy Phoenix wanted – Jimmy Butler.

The kings now have Zach avalanche in a trade with Chicago Bulls and the spurs that landed de’aaron Fox in return to mate with Phenom, 7-Foot Victor Wembanyama.

Suns can be formidable when they are completely healthy, but matchups are all in the game. They should have no part of a win-or-go-home scenario.

Vote now: Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander?

This is such a hard call.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player on NBA’s best team and gives Dudes the company. On average 30-PLUS points for a third straight season, Gilgeous-Alexander puts a career-best 32.7 points to go with six rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Saw him just fall 50 Wednesday at Suns in OKC, who outscored Phoenix, 18-16, in the third quarter of himself.

As Suns guard Bradley Beal said, “manipulates” Gilgeous-Alexander played with his ability to play with pace, make space and make contact with such ease and fluid.

As big as Gilgeous-Alexander has played is Nikola Jokic NBA’s best player.

As seriously, he reaches a level of dominance that puts him in that conversation with the game’s biggest ever. JOKIC already has three MVPs.

A fourth will tie him the greatest of his generation and for some, the goat – LeBron James.

Jokic went into Saturday’s game on average a triple-double at 29.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.3 assists.

Saturday’s State Line – 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in just 29 minutes.

Set the entire fourth quarter. He was quite too much for Nick Richards and Mason Plumlee and everyone else to Suns.

Nuggets have risen to the third in the West behind OKC and Memphis – and this is largely due to the great man from Serbia putting on a nocturnal masterclass.

I have an MVP voting. If I had to choose today, I go with Gilgeous-Alexander mostly because of team success because both guys have unreal seasons, but still have 30 or so playing before making that call.

Bol Bol shines again, future minutes?

It feels like the same story for Bol Bol every year.

He hardly plays and then gets a chance for most of the things due to injuries.

He produces, crowd going crazy, guys returning and back to the bench for Bol.

7-foot is possibly the only guy who can hit 3, run the floor for a can and throw a back-back pass for an open 3 in a half and then don’t play for a month.

He posted another strong game on Saturday with a season high 19 points, seven rebounds and four blocks after scoring 12 points in Friday’s overtime win.

His defensive responsibility to protect himself from the perimeter and lack of physicality inside has often kept him out of rotation.

Bol can definitely score on all three levels, run the floor and is a fan favorite, home or away.

Suns needed him to play with Durant out. When Durant returns and the team is full strength, will coach Mike Budenholzer keep bol in the rotation?

His answer: “Bol has certainly been impressive and I think it served it. We must seriously consider how we can keep him in play and see how he can influence the game some even when we are whole.”

Frank Vogel had to answer the same question last season.

Again, this is nothing new unless Bol plays consistent minutes for the rest of the regular season.

Do you have opinions about the current sunshine? Well Suns Insider Duane Rankin on [email protected] Or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, on @Duanerankin.

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