A Kevin Durant buzzer-beating 3-pointer completed a Phoenix Suns‘ 21-point comeback to force overtime, but Nikola Jokic’s historic 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist triple-double lifted the Nuggets past the Suns in extra periods, 149-141.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Jokic became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a single game.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 34 points and seven assists on 10-of-19 shooting. Kevin Durant added 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists, including his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game into overtime with 1.4 second remaining.
Aaron Gordon was the second of seven Nuggets to score in double figures, notching 27 points and tying a career-high seven 3-point makes.
Phoenix (29-34) needed this win as the Dallas Mavericks, who are 2.5 games ahead of the Suns for the final play-in spot, lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on the same night. Durant, Booker and Phoenix embark on their biggest game of the season against the Mavericks on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MST.
Booker, Durant will Suns to overtime in 4th quarter
Devin Booker scored 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to will Phoenix back from down 21 points at one point. With 1.4 seconds left and the Suns down 125-122, Kevin Durant hit a buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer to send the game to overtime off a Booker assist.
Nikola Jokic had the Nuggets on his back with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 17 assists in regulation. Christian Braun hit the 3-point shot with just under three seconds left to put Denver over Phoenix before Durant’s buzzer-beater.
Durant, Suns not done just yet in 3rd quarter
Kevin Durant scored eight of his 19 points in the third quarter to bring Phoenix’s large deficit back down to 11 ahead of the final quarter, 102-91.
Along with Durant’s team-leading 19 points, he added six rebounds and four assists. Nick Richards continued to be impactful on the short roll, scoring 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Devin Booker also scored 18 points and dished five assists through three quarters, making it five Suns starters in double figures (Bradley Beal, 10 points).
Aaron Gordon matched his career-high in 3-point makes en route to 25 points on seven made 3s. Nikola Jokic notched another triple-double, scoring 17 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 15 assists through three quarters.
Mar 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Suns deficit grows despite Booker’s big 2nd quarter
After a zero-point first quarter, Devin Booker scored 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting in the second. It was all for not as Phoenix’s deficit sprouted before halftime, 68-56.
Booker’s 12 points led the Suns through the first half and he added four assists to his stat line. Kevin Durant followed him with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists on 4-for-5 shooting. The only other player in double figures for Phoenix was Nick Richards with 10 points. Collin Gillespie, Phoenix’s two-way player who was a hero in their win against the Clippers, came in second quarter and drilled a 3-pointer.
Aaron Gordon knocked down his fifth 3-pointer in seven attempts in the second quarter to bring his half total to a game-leading 17 points. Nikola Jokic, despite shooting just nine shots, was felt all over the game, posting 13 points, eight rebounds and nine assists going into halftime.
Mar 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) defends on Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35)in the first quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Gordon torches Suns in 1st quarter
Aaron Gordon caught fire from deep for the Nuggets early in the first quarter, sinking four consecutive 3-pointers to give Denver the early lead, 37-28.
Nick Richards and Bradley Beal led the Suns with six points each to start the game. Devin Booker didn’t score a point, dished out three assists and was a minus-11 in eight first quarter minutes. Despite shooting 52% from beyond the arc, Phoenix committed five turnovers that contributed to its nine-point deficit.
Gordon led Denver with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting on 3s. Nikola Jokic dominated the first quarter as well, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists. Russell Westbrook also came off the bench and scored six points, making all of his three shot attempts.
Mar 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) controls the ball in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Injury report
Bradley Beal (left calf injury management) was listed questionable and later made available. His nagging calf injury kept him out of the second half of Phoenix’s comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Monte Morris (low back injury management) and Cody Martin (sports hernia) were both out.
For Denver, Nikola Jokic (left ankle inflammation) and Aaron Gordon (left ankle sprain) were also both listed questionable and late updated to available ahead of the game. Julian Strawther (left ankle sprain) was out.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenoNBA, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
