The Phoenix Suns lost 127-120 to the Denver Nuggets in an NBA Cup group stage game on Friday night. Jamal Murray's 39-point explosion and a blistering 20-three-pointer night from Denver proved too much for Phoenix, which has now lost three of its last four games (1W-3L).
Jamal Murray caught fire in the second half, scoring 28 of his 39 points after the break. He finished 7 of 9 from three-point range. Christian Braun was just as hot, adding 31 points and hitting all six of his first-half three-point attempts. The Nuggets as a team shot a scorching 52.6% from deep, making 20 threes total. Nikola Jokic contributed 18 points and 10 assists, with all five Denver starters reaching double figures.
The Suns kept pace early, thanks largely to Dillon Brooks. He scored 20 points before halftime, nearly matching Braun's output. But the game shifted in the third quarter. Brooks was ejected after kicking Murray in the groin on a play. He was leading Phoenix with 22 points at the time of his exit. Without him, the Suns' defense struggled to contain Denver's perimeter attack.
Miles Bridges led Phoenix with 24 points. Devin Booker, playing on his 30th birthday, added 20 points. Collin Gillespie provided a spark off the bench with 16 points and 10 assists. Despite their efforts, the Suns could never cut the deficit to a single possession in the final period after Denver took a 103-93 lead into the fourth.
This loss extends a troubling trend for Phoenix. Their last result was a 120-127 defeat to Denver on October 30, 2026. Looking at their recent form, they've lost two straight and three of four. The recent results are authoritative: a 125-114 loss to Oklahoma City on October 26, a 131-122 win over Golden State on October 24, and a heavy 124-83 defeat in Portland on October 21.
The defensive issues are glaring. Allowing 20 three-pointers at a 52.6% clip is unsustainable. The ejection of Dillon Brooks also robbed the team of its most productive scorer on the night and a key defensive presence. Consistency is becoming a problem early in the season, and the team's standings position will suffer if they can't string together stops.
The schedule doesn't get easier. The Suns have a quick turnaround and face the Golden State Warriors on the road on November 2, 2026. It's a chance to snap this two-game skid but presents another major challenge.
They'll need to find answers for their perimeter defense before that matchup. Containing Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will require a much better effort than they showed against Denver. Offensively, finding scoring beyond Bridges and Booker, especially if Brooks faces a suspension, will be important. The team's depth, including players like Collin Gillespie, may need to step up in a bigger way.
