Short-handed Nuggets beat Suns 123-112
Danilo Gallinari scored 32 points, and Denver took advantage of a third-quarter parade at the free-throw line to beat the Phoenix Suns for the second time in three nights, 123-112 on Saturday.
By Bob Baum, Associated Press
PHOENIX — Danilo Gallinari scored 32 points, and Denver took advantage of a third-quarter parade at the free-throw line to beat the Phoenix Suns for the second time in three nights, 123-112 on Saturday.
Eric Bledsoe scored a career-high 41 for the Suns. Devin Booker added 23.
Kenneth Faried had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, winners of three straight and seven of their last nine.
Denver won despite the absence of point guard Emmanuel Mudiay and center Nikola Jokic, who left with a left hip flexor strain late in Thursday night’s 127-120 victory.
The Nuggets were 18 of 19 at the foul line in the third quarter, when Phoenix starting forwards T.J. Warren and Marquese Chriss had five fouls and Booker four. Denver finished 37 of 42 at the line.
Denver outscored the Suns 36-22 in the third quarter and was up 95-76 when Wilson Chandler scored inside with 1:02 to play. The Suns scored the final seven points of the period to cut Denver’s lead to 95-83 entering the fourth. But Phoenix never got closer than seven in the final 12 minutes.