Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Credit Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The visiting Denver Nuggets used one of the Phoenix Suns' primary weapons against them Wednesday night, riding balanced scoring to a 110-98 victory over the defending Western Conference champions on Opening Night.

Player of the Game
Nikola  Jokic
EFF
29
Nikola Jokic
Points 27
Accuracy 13-22
Rebounds 13
Assists 2

Reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic led six players in double figures with 27 points for the Nuggets, who were swept by the Suns in the Western Conference semifinals last year.

Chris Paul had 15 points and a game-high 10 assists for the Suns, who were outshot 53.0 percent to 41.4 percent.

After Phoenix dominated the second quarter to take a 58-51 lead into halftime, Denver held the upper hand throughout most of the second half. The Nuggets led by as many as 11 in the third period and 85-82 at quarter's end before newcomer Jeff Green bombed in consecutive 3-pointers to give the visitors some breathing room early in the final period.

The Suns trailed by nine after a Mikal Bridges hoop with 5:45 to play, then held the Nuggets scoreless for the next three minutes. But the hosts also failed to score, missing five straight shots and a pair of free throws while mixing in a turnover, and when Will Barton ended the dual drought with a 3-pointer with 2:45 to go, Denver was in command at 105-93.

Jokic hit 13 of his 22 shots and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who are expected to play most, if not all, of the season without high-scoring guard Jamal Murray, out following knee surgery.

Barton finished with 20 points, shooting 8-for-14 overall and 4-for-8 on 3-pointers. The Nuggets outscored the Suns 51-42 on 3-pointers and outshot them from beyond the arc 43.6 percent to 37.8 percent.

Jokic and Barton got plenty of help from Michael Porter Jr. with 15 points, Green with 13, Aaron Gordon with 12, and P.J. Dozier with 10.

Denver's only starter not to score in double figures was Monte Morris, who chipped in with nine points, all on 3-pointers.

Bridges paced the Suns with 16 points. Deandre Ayton matched Paul with 15, while Devin Booker had 12 on a 3-for-15 shooting. Cameron Johnson and Landry Shamet chipped in 11 apiece, and Cameron Payne scored 10.

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 27 (13 REB), Will Barton 20 (6 REB, 5 AST), Michael Porter 15 (6 REB, 5 AST), Jeff Green 13, Aaron Gordon 12 (8 REB, 4 AST), P.J. Dozier 10 (5 REB).

Suns: Mikal Bridges 16 (5 REB), Deandre Ayton 15 (6 REB), Chris Paul 15 (10 AST), Devin Booker 12 (4 REB, 4 AST), Cameron Johnson 11, Landry Shamet 11, Cameron Payne 10.

Nikola Jokic performance

Full game highlights

Comments:
We want to hear from you. Be the first to comment!
Thank you for reporting a comment

Add comment

We have the right to remove comments which are offensive, contains abusive language, or violates other rules of the website
Phoenix Suns
Denver Nuggets
41%
36/87
Field goals
53%
44/83
50
Rebounds
49
23
Assists
25
9
Steals
9
18
Turnovers
19
71%
12/17
Free throws
56%
5/9

Best players

Mikal  Bridges
16 PTS
7/16 FG
0/2 FT
Nikola  Jokic
27 PTS
13/22 FG
0/0 FT
Phoenix Suns
Few players
8 REB
Nikola  Jokic
13 REB
11 DREB
2 OREB
Chris  Paul
10 As
3 TO
34 MIN
Denver Nuggets
Few players
5 As
Chris  Paul
20 EFF
57% 2P%
50% 3P%
Nikola  Jokic
29 EFF
75% 2P%
17% 3P%