Denver Nuggets Dismantle Suns in 2025-26 Home Opener Spectacle

On a night where his shot wasn’t his primary weapon, going just 5-for-8 from the field, Jokic bent the game to his will. His 166th career regular-season triple-double, placing him third all-time, was a testament to his unique genius. He didn’t just play basketball; he saw it, a chess master moving his pieces with an almost psychic understanding of the court. The Suns, missing their starting center Mark Williams, had no answer. How do you stop a tidal wave with a bucket? Suns’ Fleeting Hope Extinguished by Nuggets’ Firepower For a brief moment in the third quarter, it seemed like Phoenix might claw its way back from the abyss. Trailing by 20, the Suns, led by a valiant 31-point effort from Devin Booker, ripped off a 13-2 run. The lead shrank to nine. The home crowd held its breath. Was the magic running out? Not a chance. The Denver Nuggets responded with the cold, calculated fury of a champion. They answered the Suns’ push with an 11-0 haymaker of their own, pushing the lead right back to a comfortable margin. It was a sequence that defined the game: Phoenix fought with desperation, but Denver fought with confidence. The run was punctuated by highlight-reel plays, including a jaw-dropping 360-degree slam from Aaron Gordon, who followed up his career-high 50-point game with a solid 17 points. By the time Murray drained another three to start the fourth, making it 108-86, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Nuggets simply had too many weapons, too much chemistry, and too much Jokic. The final stats paint a brutal picture. The Denver Nuggets dominated in the paint, scoring 62 points to the Suns’ 34. They were quicker on the break, outscoring Phoenix 28-11 in fast-break points. And they shared the ball with beautiful efficiency, racking up 31 assists. It was a complete performance, a warning shot fired across the bow of the Western Conference. They’re back, and they look hungrier than ever.