On Tuesday, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns dropped their season opener, 115-107, to the Denver Nuggets.

First Quarter

At the first media timeout, the Suns were behind 13-12; Allen was the only starting player for either team without a point through the first five minutes. 

With 3:55 remaining, the Suns substituted in Yuta Watanabe and Drew Eubanks. The Suns eventually took the lead, 21-20, after bench players Keita Bates-Diop and Eric Gordon entered the game.

However, Denver emerged victorious, ending the first quarter up 25-23. The Nuggets shot 50% (10-50) from beyond the arc. 

Okogie led the Suns with six points and three rebounds. 

Second Quarter

After Jokic and Murray were re-inserted, Denver went on an 11-0 run, prompting Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel to call timeout. Gordon scored all of the Suns’ points to open the second quarter.

Allen’s seven second-quarter points were crucial in tying the game at 38.

Denver, who kept their starting lineup together, built a sizable lead at the end of the second quarter and took a 55-48 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Suns’ shooting percentage dropped to 38%. Nurkic scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds to lead the Suns in scoring. 

Third Quarter

Suns fans gave free agent signee Bol Bol a standing ovation when he made his first game appearance. 

Aside from that, the performance of both teams in the third quarter was pretty dismal. The Nuggets carried an 87-77 lead into the final period of play.

In the third, the Suns’ attention on the free throw line paid off as they outshot the Nuggets 9 to 24 from the line. 

Fourth Quarter

The Suns cut Denver’s lead in half inside the opening few minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing the Nuggets to take a timeout. Bol contributed to four of the first seven goals scored by Phoenix. 

The Suns had two minutes left to try and win the game, but the Denver bench squad only allowed them one field goal attempt. 

Okogie led Phoenix in scoring with 17 points. Out of their starting five, four scored in double figures.