DENVER (AP) — Kevin Durant was off the mark together with his jumper — till it mattered most.
Durant scored 35 factors, together with eight in additional time, and the short-handed Phoenix Suns rebounded after blowing a 22-point lead within the second half to beat the Denver Nuggets 117-107 on Tuesday night time.
After scoring simply 12 factors within the fourth quarter, the Suns erupted for 15 in OT, led by Durant and Bradley Beal, who had 5 of his 16 within the additional interval.
Durant’s largest shot of the night time was a game-tying, step-back 3-pointer with 26.6 seconds remaining. He was 3 of his earlier 17 from the ground main into that shot. However there was little question he was taking it.
“I knew coming throughout half-court, ‘That is do-or-die proper right here, I’ve received make this shot or it may be sport,’” stated Durant, who was 14 of 34 from the ground. “My fundamentals have been proper on that one.
“It felt good leaving my arms. … I simply love listening to the group go silent. That’s at all times a very good feeling on the street.”
Grayson Allen hit eight 3-pointers and scored 28 factors to assist the Suns snap a two-game slide.
Trailing 77-55 early within the third, Denver went on a livid comeback to show what was wanting like a rout right into a thriller. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:30 remaining, adopted by a Jamal Murray basket to make it 102-99.
Durant tied it and set the stage for Nikola Jokic, whose last-second floater missed to ship the sport into additional time.
“I’ve seen (Jokic) make that 95 out of 100 instances,” Murray stated. “All of us thought it was getting in.”
Murray completed with 28 factors whereas Jokic added 25 factors, 16 rebounds and 5 assists because the Nuggets had their six-game profitable streak halted.
“Such a winnable sport. Which may be one of many worst losses we’ve had,” Murray stated. “It’s powerful. It’s simply powerful.”
Allen hit eight straight 3-pointers, however missed his remaining 4 as soon as the Nuggets put Caldwell-Pope on him as a major defender.
“All of them felt good leaving my arms,” Allen stated. “Noticed just a few go in early and received extra aggressive with those I used to be taking they usually stored getting in.”
Jusuf Nurkic fouled out with 2:28 remaining as he tried to include Jokic. Nurkic had 12 rebounds a sport after grabbing a franchise-record 31 boards towards Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Suns have been lacking Devin Booker (sprained ankle), Nassir Little (knee), Damion Lee (meniscus surgical procedure) and Josh Okogie (stomach pressure).
It was a giant win for the Suns, who’re within the sixth spot and teetering near being within the play-in event.
“You take a look at the totality of the season, clearly the tip result’s at all times vital, taking part in within the playoffs, attempting to win a championship, these are vital,” Durant stated. “However you have a good time little moments.”
Trailing 43-36 within the second quarter, the Suns went on a 29-5 run to open a cushty cushion earlier than halftime. The lead ballooned to 22 factors early within the third earlier than Denver’s surge.
“That was the message at halftime — we’re not taking part in exhausting sufficient,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated, whose staff was outscored 37-18 within the second quarter. “I believe we had a few guys that sort of confirmed up tonight in chill mode.”
Jokic added to his resume of constructing buzzer-beating heaves when he swished a turnaround, 26-footer to finish the primary quarter. His shot — nicknamed the “Sombor Shuffle” — energized the group and capped 1 / 4 the place the groups have been a mixed 11 of 17 from 3-point vary.
This was the second matchup between the Nuggets and Suns this season, however nothing like Denver’s 119-111 win on Dec. 1 in Phoenix. In that contest, the Suns have been with out Booker, Damion Lee and Beal, whereas the Nuggets have been lacking Murray.
“That is a type of the place tomorrow all of us really feel higher. Tomorrow now we have higher readability and much more optimistic vitality,” stated Murray, whose staff shot 42.7% from the sphere. “However right now it’s powerful. It wasn’t only one one that didn’t shoot effectively, it was rattling close to everyone.”
UP NEXT
- Suns: Host Toronto on Thursday night time.
- Nuggets: Host Boston on Thursday night time.
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