Knight scores 38 as Suns rally to beat Nuggets 114-107
Nov 20, 2015, 10:29 PM | Updated: Nov 21, 2015, 2:58 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight celebrates after hitting a key basket against the Denver Nuggets late in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, in Denver. Phoenix won 114-107. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — Brandon Knight scored a career-high 38 points, Eric Bledsoe had 22 and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 114-107 on Friday night.
Rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay led Denver with a career-high 26 points, and Gary Harris also set a career best with 20.
The Suns trailed most of the game but went ahead early in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run. Jon Leuer’s 3-pointer made it 89-88, Knight hit another 3 and Mirza Teletovic’s putback increased the margin to 94-88.
Teletovic and Knight had consecutive 3-pointers to make it 102-92 with 4:26 remaining.
Knight scored 17 points in the fourth to lead the comeback.
Denver cut it to five on a 3-pointer by Harris and a layup by Mudiay, but Knight hit three free throws and a layup to make it a 10-point game again. Ronnie Price’s 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 110-99 lead, its biggest of the game.
Denver came back with five straight points but missed three free throws in the final minute that could have made it a one-possession game. Knight sealed the win with his sixth 3-pointer.
Phoenix outscored Denver 65-44 in the second half.
The Nuggets started slowly but picked it up late in the first quarter. Danilo Gallinari scored eight points and Will Barton had seven in a 20-0 run capped by Darrell Arthur’s jumper on the first shot of the second quarter.
Denver went from down six to ahead 31-17 after the spurt.
The Nuggets led by as many as 15 in the first half and took a 63-49 lead into the locker room.
They pushed it to 68-51 before Phoenix stormed back with a third-quarter surge that trimmed its deficit to 84-80 entering the fourth.
TIP-INS
Suns: Phoenix entered without a player listed on the injury report. … The Suns allowed a season-high 63 first-half points. The previous high was 60 against Oklahoma City on Nov. 8. … The Suns play eight of 10 on the road, starting with Friday’s game.
Nuggets: C Joffrey Lauvergne missed his 10th straight game with a lower back strain. He is closer to returning but not ready yet. … The Nuggets’ 63 points in the first half were a season high. … Four players were in double figures by halftime.
UP NEXT
Suns: At New Orleans on Sunday.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Sunday.
