The Denver Nuggets seized a critical 125-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns in a nail-biter at the Mortgage Matchup Center on March 24, 2026, solidifying their position in the Western Conference’s top six. In front of a raucous, sellout crowd of 17,071, the night belonged to Nikola Jokic, who delivered yet another masterclass with a game-winning midrange jumper and a monster triple-double: 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists. With this win, Denver improved to 45-28 and swept the season series against Phoenix, 3-0, while the Suns slipped to 40-33, now lagging a few games behind Houston for the coveted sixth seed and an automatic playoff berth.
Denver entered the matchup riding a two-game winning streak, their momentum fueled by Sunday’s convincing 128-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. In that contest, Jokic posted his 28th triple-double of the season, notching 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Jamal Murray matched him with 22 points and a barrage of threes. Peyton Watson, who returned to action against Portland after a month-long absence, was held out of the Phoenix game as the Nuggets carefully managed their roster during a taxing back-to-back stretch.
The Suns, meanwhile, had just snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominant 120-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors, led by Devin Booker’s 25 points and Jalen Green’s 20. But Phoenix’s playoff hopes took another hit against Denver, despite a valiant effort. Booker paced the Suns with 22 points and eight assists, but his last-gasp three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left clanged off the rim, sealing the Nuggets’ win. "Booker missed a 3 for the win with 1.9 seconds left," reported local outlets, capturing the heartbreak for Suns fans as the final buzzer sounded.
The night’s drama unfolded in classic Western Conference fashion. Phoenix jumped out to a seven-point lead after the first quarter, but Denver stormed back, closing the second quarter on a blistering 21-8 run to take a 67-57 halftime advantage. Jokic was already flirting with a triple-double by the break, tallying 15 points, 11 boards, and nine assists. The Suns’ hot shooting cooled considerably, dropping from 56% in the opening frame to just 27.3% in the second quarter. Jalen Green led Phoenix early with 14 points, while Booker was held to just seven before halftime.
Denver’s depth and discipline shone through as the game wore on. Jamal Murray, though quiet early, erupted in the fourth quarter, finishing with 21 points on 18 shots, six assists, and only two turnovers—numbers that bolster his growing All-NBA case. “Now that the All-Star conversation is over, Jamal Murray’s name should come up in All-NBA conversations,” wrote the Denver Gazette, highlighting the guard’s late-season surge and the impact of the league’s 65-game threshold for postseason honors. The rule, which has come under fire from the players association, nearly sidelined Jokic and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from awards contention due to legitimate injuries. The association issued a statement: “Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries.”
While Jokic’s heroics earned the headlines, the supporting cast played pivotal roles. Cam Johnson, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon rounded out Denver’s starting lineup, providing defensive grit and timely buckets. On the Suns’ side, Collin Gillespie, a former Nugget turned Phoenix starter, opened the game with five quick points and finished with 11, continuing his impressive season after recovering from a serious leg injury that derailed his rookie campaign. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale returned from knee issues to bolster the Suns’ depleted rotation, while Ryan Dunn was a late scratch with groin soreness, joining Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Haywood Highsmith, and Amir Coffey on the injured list. The Suns’ depth was further tested, with Oso Ighodaro and Jordan Goodwin forced into larger roles against Denver’s imposing frontcourt.
Statistically, the Nuggets dominated the paint, outscoring Phoenix 58-36 inside. However, the Suns countered with a barrage from deep, hitting 17 of 47 from three-point range—12 more points than Denver managed from beyond the arc (13 for 32). Still, the Nuggets’ inside presence and clutch execution down the stretch proved decisive. A highlight-reel moment came late in the first quarter when Tim Hardaway Jr. leaked out in transition, caught a Jokic outlet pass, and soared for a dunk over Jordan Goodwin, drawing a foul and energizing the Denver bench.
Both teams made strategic decisions with an eye on the postseason. Denver rested Peyton Watson for the Phoenix game but expects him back for the March 25 clash against the Dallas Mavericks, where Aaron Gordon is likely to sit. The Suns, meanwhile, are still waiting for Mark Williams to return to full-contact practice after missing 11 straight games, while Coach Jordan Ott juggles a patchwork rotation in hopes of avoiding the play-in tournament. As the regular season nears its conclusion, every win and loss carries outsized implications for playoff seeding and home-court advantage.
The game was broadcast nationally on NBC and streamed on Peacock, with local coverage on Altitude Sports and Arizona’s Family Sports. Fans without cable could access the action through a variety of free trials and streaming bundles—a testament to the growing accessibility of NBA basketball in the digital age.
Looking ahead, Denver heads home for a back-to-back against a shorthanded Mavericks squad, aiming to maintain momentum and keep their top-six status secure. Phoenix, meanwhile, will try to regroup before hosting the Utah Jazz on March 28, still clinging to hope for a late push up the standings. The Western Conference playoff race remains wide open, but with Jokic at the helm and Murray heating up, the Nuggets are sending a clear message: when the stakes are highest, they’re ready to deliver.