That was a statement game. The Denver Nuggets rolled into Phoenix on December 1, 2023, and absolutely dismantled the Suns, winning 119-111. It wasn't as close as the final score suggests, not really. Nikola Jokic, the two-time MVP, put on a clinic, dropping 38 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists. He damn near had another triple-double, which feels like a Tuesday for him at this point.
The Suns, meanwhile, looked discombobulated. Kevin Durant tried to keep them afloat with 30 points on 11-of-25 shooting, but he got little consistent help. Devin Booker, returning from injury, managed 27 points but needed 26 shots to get there. That’s not efficient basketball, especially against a team that moves the ball as well as Denver. Bradley Beal was still out, and his absence loomed large, leaving Phoenix with a clear lack of playmaking and secondary scoring.
The Nuggets’ offense wasn't just Jokic. Jamal Murray, who’s slowly but surely finding his rhythm after his own injury woes, added 16 points and 6 assists. Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds, hitting big shots and showing off that smooth stroke. What stands out watching this Denver team is their unselfishness. They finished with 30 assists on 47 made field goals. That’s a beautiful brand of basketball, a stark contrast to the often isolation-heavy sets run by the Suns.
They shot 52.8% from the field as a team and a respectable 38.7% from three-point range. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a menace on defense and hit 3 of his 6 threes, adding 15 points. This isn't just a team that relies on Jokic to score; he orchestrates everything, setting up his teammates for easy looks. When MPJ is hitting his threes and Murray is attacking the rim, the Nuggets are practically unstoppable.
Here's the thing: the Suns' "Big Three" experiment, when healthy, still feels a bit forced. They’ve got three elite scorers, but the synergy isn’t always there. Booker and Durant are phenomenal, no doubt, but the ball often sticks. They only managed 20 assists as a team, a full 10 fewer than Denver. That’s a problem when you’re facing a disciplined, championship-caliber defense. Jusuf Nurkic, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, struggled to contain Jokic, which, let's be honest, most centers do.
But Phoenix’s defense was also porous. They allowed the Nuggets to score 60 points in the paint and gave up far too many open looks from beyond the arc. They need to figure out how to integrate their stars more effectively and establish a defensive identity if they want to contend. Right now, they look like a collection of talented individuals rather than a cohesive unit. My hot take? This Suns team, as currently constructed, won't win a championship. They’re too reliant on individual brilliance and lack the depth and defensive cohesion of true contenders.
This win pushed the Nuggets to 14-6 on the season, firmly at the top of the Western Conference. The Suns, meanwhile, dropped to 11-9, still trying to find their footing. The gap between these two teams, at least on this night, felt significant. The Nuggets play with a swagger, a quiet confidence that comes from having a reigning champion and an MVP running the show.
Bold prediction: The Nuggets will finish as the top seed in the West and Jokic will win his third MVP award this season.