The Phoenix Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets 115-107 in their season opening on Tuesday in front of a sold-out crowd at the Footprint Center:
First Quarter
After the first media break, the Suns were behind 13-12, with Allen being the only starter without a point in the opening five minutes.
The Suns’ Yuta Watanabe and Drew Eubanks came in with 3:55 remaining. In the following minutes, Keita Bates-Diop and Eric Gordon came off the bench to help the Suns take a 21-20 lead.
But Denver prevailed, and by the conclusion of the first quarter, they led 25-23. The Nuggets’ three-point percentage was 50% (10-50).
Okogie scored six points and grabbed three boards to lead the Suns.
Second Quarter
When Jokic and Murray returned to the game, Denver scored eleven straight points, forcing Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel to call timeout. All of the Suns’ points to start the second quarter came from Gordon.
Seven of Allen’s points in the second quarter helped make the score 38-38.
With their starting lineup intact, Denver pulled away late in the second quarter to take a 55-48 advantage into halftime. Phoenix’s shooting slumped to an overall 38% clip. With 10 points and 4 boards, Nurkic was the only Suns player in double figures.
Third Quarter
When free agency addition Bol Bol entered the game for the first time, Suns fans greeted him with a roaring ovation.
Aside from that, the third quarter was very disappointing from both teams. As the game entered the fourth quarter, the Nuggets led 87-77.
The Suns continued their focus on the free throw line in the third quarter, as they outshot Denver 9 to 24 from the charity stripe.
Fourth Quarter
In the first few minutes of the final period, the Suns trimmed Denver’s advantage in half, prompting the Nuggets to call a timeout. Four of Phoenix’s first seven scores came from Bol.
The Suns had a chance to win the game in the last two minutes, but Denver’s bench unit held them to just one field goal attempt.
Okogie scored a game-high 17 points to lead Phoenix in scoring. They had four starters out of five score in double figures.
