NBA: Suns gain split of home-and-home set vs. Nuggets

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal scored 27 points apiece and the Phoenix Suns avenged a one-sided loss at Denver earlier this week with a solid 110-100 victory over the visiting Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Tyus Jones added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Monte Morris scored 11 off the bench for the Suns, who halted a three-game losing streak. Jusuf Nurkic collected 13 rebounds to go with eight points and six assists, Durant added six assists and Beal had four steals for Phoenix in the Christmas night affair.

Nikola Jokic recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points as Denver lost for just the second time in the past seven games.

Russell Westbrook registered 17 points and six rebounds off the bench and Jamal Murray had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists for Denver. Murray sat out Monday due to an ankle injury when the Nuggets routed the Suns 117-90.

Phoenix was without star Devin Booker (groin) for the third straight game on Wednesday.

The Suns connected on 46.6 percent of their shots, including 11 of 36 (30.6 percent) from 3-point range. Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) missed his second straight game.

The Nuggets made 46.2 percent of their shots and were 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from behind the arc. Aaron Gordon (calf) exited the game early in the third quarter and didn't return.

Phoenix opened up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter when it rattled off nine straight points. Beal made two baskets during the charge and Royce O'Neale swished a 3-pointer as the Suns took a 101-87 lead with 6:48 remaining in the game.

Durant later buried a jumper to make it 105-90 with 4:34 left.

Porter scored four straight points to bring the Nuggets within 107-96 with 2:01 left, but Jones drained a 3-pointer 21 seconds later and the Suns closed out their impressive win.

Durant and Beal each scored 14 points in the first half as Phoenix led 58-56 at the break. Jokic had 17 points and eight rebounds in the half for the Nuggets.

The contest was tied at 75 after Westbrook's basket with 4:10 left in the third quarter. The Suns closed the quarter with a 10-3 run to lead 85-78 and then Mason Plumlee converted a three-point play to open the fourth quarter to make it a 10-point margin.

--Field Level Media/Reuters