Murray and Braun Combine for 70 as Denver Outguns Phoenix

Denver beat Phoenix 127-120, turning a five-point first-quarter deficit into a four-point halftime lead and holding on from there. The Suns opened with a 37-32 edge, but Denver answered with a 39-30 second quarter and stretched its advantage with a 32-26 third. Murray led the charge with 39 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three and 12-of-15 at the line, plus 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 5 turnovers. Braun added 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, hitting 7-of-9 threes, with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, no blocks and 1 turnover. Nikola Jokic contributed 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, no blocks and 5 turnovers. Phoenix got 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks from Miles Bridges on 10-of-19 shooting, while Dillon Brooks scored 22 on 9-of-12 with 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, no blocks and 1 turnover; Devin Booker added 20 on 7-of-19, with 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, no blocks and 4 turnovers. Denver carried a 103-93 lead into the fourth, and although Phoenix outscored the Nuggets 27-24 in the final quarter, Murray and Braun’s scoring kept the visitors in front.