Suns Strokes: Bledsoe, Dragic, Green combine for 65 points to beat Nuggets
Nov 27, 2014, 6:19 AM | Updated: 6:19 am
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns showed no signs of jet lag after playing six games in nine days on the road, totaling more than seven-thousand miles, beating the Denver Nuggets 120-112.
A lot of the scoring rested on the shoulders of Eric Bledsoe with the Suns leading scorer Isaiah Thomas in street clothes nursing an ankle injury he suffered in Toronto. After Bledsoe lead the way in the first half with 14 points, it was Gerald Green who stole show with a six-pack of 3-pointers and two jaw-dropping dunks that had Suns fans on their feet.
One dunk, a reverse tomahawk jam, came early in the fourth quarter on an out-of-bounds play with one second left on the shot clock. The other came on alley-oop pass from Bledsoe to give the Suns a 16-point lead.
Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek says Gerald Green can discourage an opponent with some of the shots he makes.
“When he makes some of those fall-aways, and you’re like ‘don’t even shoot it’ — the shots he puts up and then it goes in. It gets demoralizing for teams. ‘The guy really made that shot?’ Gerald does that quite often for us.”
Green has been relishing his sixth-man role, averaging 14 points off the bench, but against the Nuggets, he took over scoring a game-high 24 points.
With Thomas out, Goran Dragic took advantage of the extra minutes with 21 points, making 13 of his 18 shots from the floor. Bledsoe, Dragic and Green combined for 65 points.
The Suns had a bundle of energy to start the game and it never wavered with more than 16,000 fans matching the team’s energy.
“It started from the jump,” Bledsoe said. “I think everyone played great and it carried over to the second half.”
Bledsoe finished with 21 points, 10 assists and a bruised hip. In the third quarter, Wilson Chandler hammered Bledsoe on a fast break opportunity to the basket. A foul was not called and Bledsoe laid on the court for a few minutes before gingerly walking back to the bench.
Bledsoe said after the game he has no doubt he will be back on the court against the Nuggets on Friday night.
“I’m going to get treatment and see how that goes, but I’m going to play.”
The Suns improved to 10-6 on the season. It’s their best 16-game start since the 2009-10 season when they started 13-3.
THE GOOD
Alex Len scored eight straight points in just three minutes of play in the first quarter. Len completed two three-point plays that included two dunks and a layup.
The Suns enjoyed being back at home for the first time in six games, scoring 34 points in the first quarter. It’s the most points they have scored in the first 12-minutes since scoring a season high 36 against the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 7.
The Suns took advantage of all their trips to the free throw line in the first half, going 13-for-13. The Suns ended up making 17-of-21 from the line for the game.
After only scoring eight points in the first 24 minutes of the game, Dragic came alive in the third quarter, scoring nine points in the first six minutes. Dragic finished with 20 points.
Markieff Morris was three assists shy of a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
THE BAD
The Suns gave up 20 offensive boards, giving the Nuggets 23 second-chance points.
The Suns’ three-headed monster at point guard went without one of those heads on Wednesday night against the Nuggets. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said before the game that Isaiah Thomas is listed day-to-day with a right ankle contusion.
STAT OF THE GAME
13: The Suns were cashing in on the money ball against the Nuggets on Wednesday night. The Suns made 13 of their 25 three-point field goal attempts.
HE SAID IT
“I think he’s going to enjoy his turkey and he will ice down and get some treatment. Right now I think he’s going to play.” – Jeff Hornacek on Eric Bledsoe’s bruised left hip
NOTED
The Suns ended the Nuggets’ five-game winning streak, while the Suns own a five-game winning streak against the Nuggets dating back to last season.
UP NEXT
The Suns will enjoy Thanksgiving with their families before heading back out on the road to play the Nuggets again on Friday. The Suns have won four of their seven road games so far this season, while the Nuggets have won three straight at the Pepsi Center.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. The pregame show will begin 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
