Kevin Durant scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked five shots as the Phoenix Suns defeated the defending champion Nuggets 104-97. The Suns, who have the most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA, pulled a half-game ahead of Sacramento for seventh place in the Western Conference, as they strive to climb to sixth to avoid a play-in game. Dallas is sixth place, half a game ahead of Phoenix. The Western Conference-leading Nuggets struggled without starting point guard Jamal Murray, who missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists despite lower back stiffness and left hip soreness.