Two nights ago, the Suns managed to overcome a deficit of over 20 points only to lose to the Thunder. Tonight, they squandered a similar lead of over 20 points, but this time they emerged victorious against the Denver Nuggets in OT.
In the second quarter, Phoenix went on a remarkable 23-1 run, propelling them into halftime with a commanding 15-point lead.
The driving force behind this explosive 37-point 2nd quarter was Grayson Allen, who nailed each of his first 8 shots from beyond the arc.
However, in the ensuing two quarters, the Suns could only muster 37 points, as their familiar 4th quarter struggles resurfaced.
As a team, Phoenix managed to convert just 5 shots out of 24 attempts in the final 12 minutes. Allen’s hot streak from deep came to an end as he missed 4 consecutive three-pointers, Bradley Beal went 2 for 7, and Durant started the quarter shooting 1 for 8.
The Suns’ once 22-point lead quickly vanished, signaling another potential collapse in the 4th quarter and their third consecutive loss.
But, with only 20 seconds remaining, Durant sunk his first three-pointer of the night, tying the game at 102 after starting 0 for 5 from deep.
In overtime, Durant capitalized on this momentum, scoring an additional 8 points, including two more successful shots from beyond the arc. With back-to-back turnovers by the Nuggets, Phoenix seized the opportunity and went on a 15-5 run to secure the victory without any last-minute drama.
Durant finished the game with 35 points, marking his first 30+ point performance in 8 games.
The Suns remain undefeated in overtime this season, and tonight’s win marked their first victory against a team with a winning record without Devin Booker on the court. Prior to tonight, they were 0-6.
Additionally, they put an end to the Nuggets‘ six-game winning streak.
Looking ahead, the Suns will face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, with tipoff scheduled for 7 pm.
