Undermanned Suns no match for Jamal Murray, Nuggets

Jamal Murray made a season-high six 3-pointers and scored 30 points to help the Denver Nuggets roll to a 122-105 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points

Undermanned Suns no match for Jamal Murray, Nuggets

Jamal Murray made a season-high six 3-pointers and scored 30 points to help the Denver Nuggets roll to a 122-105 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists and didn’t play in the final quarter as he missed out on a triple-double.

Christian Braun had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Julian Strawther added 18 points and six rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their sixth straight game and 14th in their past 18.

Devin Booker scored 24 points and Bol Bol added 19 off the bench for the Suns, who lost for the fourth time in their past five games. Tyus Jones had 15 points and 10 assists and reserve Damion Lee had 11 points.

Kevin Durant (ankle) missed his third straight game, Bradley Beal (toe) sat out for the second straight night and Grayson Allen (knee) also missed the contest for the Suns.

Hot-shooting Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring) sat out for Denver. Porter averaged 35 points over the previous three games.

DeAndre Jordan grabbed 11 rebounds and Aaron Gordon lassoed 10 as the Nuggets held a 56-43 rebounding advantage. Denver shot 48.9 percent from the field and made 16 of 35 3-point attempts.

The Suns shot 38.8 percent from the field and were 17 of 50 from behind the arc.

Denver led by eight at the break before scoring 35 third-quarter points to take control.

A 3-pointer by Murray gave the Nuggets a 78-66 lead with 7:53 left in the third quarter. Jokic’s hoop three-plus minutes later made it a 13-point advantage.

Denver finished with a flourish as Strawther drilled a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left and Zeke Nnaji made two free throws with 35.4 remaining as the Nuggets took a 98-81 lead into the final stanza.

Murray hit a 3-pointer to start the final quarter to make it a 20-point game and Denver held the comfortable lead throughout the rest of the game.

Murray scored 20 points and Jokic had 17 as the Nuggets held a 63-55 halftime lead. Booker scored 12 in the half for Phoenix.