After a crazy extension, the Nuggets beat the Suns!

Having lost twice at home, the Suns began a long “road trip” that night with six stops in Denver. Despite a great collective effort to seize the extension including 31 points from Landry Shamet, replaced the sniper at short notice, Phoenix finally had to bow out for the third straight loss against the duo Nikola Jokic – Aaron Gordon (128-125).

However, at +8 (101-93) with less than 7 minutes to go, Phoenix has all the cards in hand to break its little black streak. This is without counting AAron Gordon’s anger and Jamal Murray’s composure behind the arc. The latter took advantage of a nice screen by Nikola Jokic to dunk and equalize with 10 seconds left.

The Suns had match point in their hands but Mikal Bridges was whistled for an offensive foul on a badly placed screen… but the latter made up for it by covering up Jamal Murray’s final 3 attempt – points. We’re going into overtime to end Christmas night (113-113)!

In overtime, Denver seemed to take control of the game when Nikola Jokic fired a one-footed shot to beat the clock by 24, and even more when KCP gave his side a +6 from behind the arc. But Landr Shamet responded again and again… before falling victim to a huge dunk from Gordon that crushed him under the circle!

The Suns will have another chance to get out of this hornet’s nest in Colorado, after a missed shot from Murray, but Bruce Brown comes to scoop the ball and the mass is said: Denver wins (128-125).

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

— An explosive extension. Between Landry Shamet’s kicks, Jokic’s shot at the buzzer and of course the many twists and turns in his incredible scenario, overtime was particularly explosive between the Nuggets and the Suns. Gordon was the great animator but the Suns almost ruined it by coming back too close on a layup from Deandre Ayton, then a missed throw from Murray.

— Devin Booker’s injury. He was warming up and he played 4 minutes but Devin Booker didn’t finish the match with his teammates. His groin injury stopped him! He has missed the past three Phoenix meetings because of this problem.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Nikola Jokic. Author of 15 points in the first quarter, Jokic finished fanny in the 2nd, before leaving very strongly after returning from the locker room, with 16 units during the season. A lower scorer but nevertheless omnipresent at the end of the match, the Serbian pivot finished with an incredible line of statistics, a new strong triple double mausse (his 83rd career) with 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists! How ugly!

✅ Aaron Gordon. Great with at least seven dunks in a Christmas game, Aaron Gordon brings out ‘Santa Claus’, punctuating his night with a huge Landry Shamet poster! With his 28 points and 13 rebounds, he confirmed match after match that he is a perfect complement to Jokic.

✅ Landry Shamet. Not having to play 39 minutes, he responded perfectly to Monty Williams’ call after Booker’s injury with 31 points, which equaled a career high. The Suns sniper certainly struggled to start the first quarter (0/3) but he caught fire in the second with 15 points in 9 minutes. At the end of the game, he also allowed Phoenix to stay with two 3-pointers in overtime.

⛔ Michael Porter Jr.. After an impressive comeback against the Blazers, the Nuggets winger was a shadow of his former self, unable to communicate with the opposing interior to diversify his game, now limited to the outside. shots. And when it doesn’t fall here, like last night, it’s ugly (3/11 including 0/5 on 3-points)…

THE FOLLOWING

Denver (21-11) : travels to Sacramento on Wednesday for the first of a doubleheader with the Kings.

Phoenix (19-15) : second leg of their “road trip” with six stopovers, in Memphis, Wednesday.