Denver survived Phoenix 125–123 on March 24, 2026.
The final score was close, but the box score reveals more.
Nikola Jokić produced an extraordinary 23-point triple-double. Phoenix protected the ball better and hit more threes. Yet Denver controlled rebounds, assisted baskets, and overall shooting efficiency. Those differences explain the result better than points alone.
At a Glance: Nuggets vs Suns Match
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns |
| Date | March 24, 2026 |
| Competition | NBA regular season |
| Venue | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix |
| Final Score | Nuggets 125, Suns 123 |
| Denver Record After Game | 45–28 |
| Phoenix Record After Game | 40–33 |
| Denver Points Leader | Nikola Jokić — 23 |
| Phoenix Points Leader | Devin Booker — 22 |
| Key Performance | Jokić — 23 PTS, 17 REB, 17 AST |
| Deciding Moment | Jokić go-ahead basket with 11.5 seconds left |
NBA’s official recap confirms Jokić scored the deciding basket late. Denver earned its third consecutive victory at the time.
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Match Player Stats
Denver had six players score at least 13 points. That balanced production mattered because Jokić did not need a huge scoring night.
Denver Nuggets Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 23 | 17 | 17 | 9-16 | 0-1 | -5 |
| Jamal Murray | 21 | 1 | 6 | 7-18 | 3-9 | +3 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 18 | 3 | 2 | 6-12 | 4-8 | +3 |
| Aaron Gordon | 16 | 6 | 3 | 5-9 | 1-1 | -6 |
| Cameron Johnson | 14 | 3 | 2 | 4-9 | 2-7 | -12 |
| Christian Braun | 13 | 3 | 1 | 6-10 | 1-3 | +1 |
| Bruce Brown | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4-7 | 1-2 | +6 |
| Julian Strawther | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2-3 | 1-1 | +12 |
| Spencer Jones | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2-4 | 0-0 | +8 |
Denver shot 45-of-88 overall. That produced a 51.1% field-goal rate. The Nuggets also made 13 three-pointers.
Phoenix Suns Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | 22 | 3 | 8 | 5-14 | 1-4 | +1 |
| Jalen Green | 21 | 6 | 6 | 6-13 | 3-6 | +9 |
| Grayson Allen | 21 | 5 | 3 | 8-19 | 5-12 | -16 |
| Royce O’Neale | 17 | 5 | 3 | 5-8 | 5-8 | +10 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 15 | 6 | 1 | 6-7 | 0-0 | -7 |
| Collin Gillespie | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4-11 | 2-7 | -1 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 7 | 8 | 2 | 3-8 | 1-5 | +1 |
| Khaman Maluach | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2-3 | 0-1 | +5 |
| Rasheer Fleming | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0-6 | 0-4 | -12 |
| Jamaree Bouyea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 |
Phoenix finished 39-of-89 from the field. The Suns made 17 threes but shot only 43.8% overall.
Nikola Jokić Controlled More Than the Scoreboard
Jokić’s 23 points were only part of his impact. He collected 17 rebounds and delivered 17 assists.
He had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists by halftime. Just 11 seconds into the third quarter, he completed his triple-double. NBA.com noted it was his quickest triple-double of that season at 17:41 of playing time.
His final line was also historically unusual. NBA.com identified it as only the seventh recorded 23-point, 17-rebound, 17-assist game. Jokić accounted for three of those seven performances.
Most importantly, he scored the winner. His floater came with 11.5 seconds remaining.
The Stat That Explains Denver’s Offense
Denver recorded 35 assists on 45 made field goals.
That means roughly 77.8% of Denver’s baskets were assisted. Phoenix recorded 24 assists on 39 made baskets, around 61.5%.
Jokić alone supplied 17 assists. That represented almost half Denver’s team total.
This matters because Denver did not rely only on isolation scoring. The Nuggets repeatedly generated connected possessions and cleaner attempts. Their effective field-goal percentage reached approximately 58.5%. Phoenix finished around 53.4%.
Phoenix Won the Turnover Battle — and Still Lost
One overlooked detail makes this matchup interesting.
Phoenix committed only three turnovers. Denver committed nine. The Suns also recorded six steals, compared with Denver’s two. Usually, that creates a meaningful possession advantage.
Denver overcame it elsewhere.
| Team Stat | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 125 | 123 |
| FG% | 51.1% | 43.8% |
| 3-Pointers | 13 | 17 |
| Rebounds | 50 | 41 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 14 | 10 |
| Assists | 35 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 3 |
| Free Throws Made | 22 | 28 |
Phoenix gained possessions through ball security. Denver gained value from each possession through stronger shooting, rebounding, and passing. That statistical trade-off shaped the game.
How the Game Changed Quarter by Quarter
Phoenix started quickly and won the opening quarter 35–28. Denver answered with its strongest stretch before halftime.
The Nuggets dominated the second quarter 39–22. They entered halftime ahead by ten. NBA.com’s recap notes Denver closed the half with a 21–8 run.
Phoenix responded immediately. The Suns won the third quarter 38–30. Both teams then scored 28 points in the fourth.
The quarter scores were:
- First: Phoenix 35–28
- Second: Denver 39–22
- Third: Phoenix 38–30
- Fourth: 28–28
That pattern shows why one weak stretch mattered. Phoenix won two quarters and tied another. Denver’s 17-point second-quarter advantage still proved enough.
Booker, Green and Allen Shared Phoenix’s Scoring Load
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 22 points and eight assists. However, he shot 5-of-14 overall and 1-of-4 from three.
Jalen Green contributed 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists. He converted three of six three-pointers.
Grayson Allen added another 21 points off the bench. He made five threes. Royce O’Neale was even more efficient from deep, hitting five of eight attempts.
Phoenix therefore had four players score at least 17 points. The problem was not a complete lack of scoring. Denver simply produced more efficient offense across the entire floor.
Why Denver Won Despite Phoenix Making More Threes
Phoenix made 17 three-pointers to Denver’s 13. It also attempted 47 threes.
However, Denver went 32-of-56 on two-point attempts. That is roughly 57.1%. Phoenix made 22-of-42 twos, about 52.4%. Denver also created more second chances through its 14 offensive rebounds.
This created a useful lesson from the box score. Three-point volume alone did not decide the matchup.
Denver combined interior efficiency, offensive rebounding, and elite passing. Phoenix’s perimeter advantage could not completely offset those areas.
Biggest Takeaways From the Player Stats
Jokić delivered the game’s defining performance. Yet Denver’s depth deserves attention too.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Bruce Brown added nine rebounds from the bench. Julian Strawther posted a team-best +12 in just over eight minutes.
Phoenix received 21 bench points from Allen. Still, several lower-usage players struggled offensively. Rasheer Fleming missed all six field-goal attempts.
The broader numbers tell the clearest story: Denver shot better, moved the ball better, and controlled the glass.
Final Takeaway
The Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns match player stats show why the 125–123 result was more than a late-game coin flip.
Phoenix protected possession and made more threes. Denver countered with 50 rebounds, 35 assists, and 51.1% shooting. Jokić connected everything with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists.
Then he supplied the final basket.
That combination of efficiency, creation, and rebounding ultimately separated two teams by only two points.
Sources
For verification and further reading:
Official NBA Nuggets vs Suns Box Score
NBA Starting 5 — March 25, 2026 Recap
Basketball-Reference Game Box Score
Phoenix Suns Official Game Page
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