NBA: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets edge Suns in OT
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a made basket in overtime against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena on December 25, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Justin Tafoya/Getty Images/AFP
Nikola Jokic had 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists, Aaron Gordon added 28 points and 13 rebounds and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime on Sunday night.
Jamal Murray scored 26 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 for the Nuggets, who have won four straight.
Landry Shamet tied his career high with 31 points for Phoenix. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Paul amassed 17 points and 16 assists, Damion Lee scored 18 and Torrey Craig and Mikal Bridges had 13 points each.
Check out the best plays from Nikola Jokic's WILD 41 PTS, 15 AST, 15 REB triple-double! #NBAXmas 🎄🎁
Presented by DraftKings pic.twitter.com/TAXfkXYgrO
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2022
The Suns lost Devin Booker to a groin injury just 4:20 into the game.
Ayton opened overtime with a 14-footer but Denver responded with the next eight points to go ahead 121-115 with 2:30 left. Shamet hit two 3-pointers around one by Caldwell-Pope and Ayton sank a reverse layup to make it 124-123 with 1:02 left.
Shamet missed from deep and fouled Gordon on his seventh dunk of the day. Gordon missed the free throw but was fouled after getting the rebound and made one of two at the line.
Aaron Gordon's monster OT slam is the FanDuel play of the week! 💪#NBAXmas 🎄🎁 pic.twitter.com/EWT9V6yR6t
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2022
Paul hit a jumper, Murray split a pair of free throws, Shamet missed another 3-point attempt and the Nuggets closed it out.
Denver led by 15 early but the Suns rallied to take a 57-51 edge into halftime. Phoenix built a 12-point lead in the third and was ahead 84-81 heading into the fourth.
The Suns led by eight midway through the final period, but Murray rallied the Nuggets to a 108-107 lead with 3:08 left.
Paul hit a 15-footer, Michael Porter Jr. made one of two free throws to tie it and Shamet made a corner 3-pointer to put Phoenix in front with 2:16 to go. Jokic’s tip-in made it 112-111 with 1:17 remaining, and Murray missed a 3-point attempt that would have put the Nuggets back in front.
Paul missed on a jump shot with 32 seconds left, Murray misfired on a 21-footer and Ayton split a pair of free throws to make it 113-111 with 15 seconds left. After a timeout, Murray hit a driving dunk to tie it again with 11 seconds left and send the game to overtime.
