The Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 127-120 in an exciting NBA Cup group-stage matchup on Friday night, October 30, 2026. Jamal Murray delivered a spectacular performance with 39 points, while Christian Braun contributed 31 points to help Denver secure an important road victory.
The Nuggets relied on their impressive three-point shooting to overcome Phoenix, extending their winning streak against the Suns to six consecutive games. Meanwhile, the biggest talking point of the night was Dillon Brooks, who was ejected during the third quarter following an incident involving Murray.
The result gave Denver consecutive victories for the first time this season and provided an important boost to its NBA Cup campaign.
Nuggets vs Suns Final Score and Game Highlights
Denver finished with a 127-120 victory over Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center in Arizona.
Final Score:
- Denver Nuggets: 127
- Phoenix Suns: 120
The Suns started strongly, scoring 37 points in the opening quarter to take an early advantage. However, Denver responded with a 39-point second quarter and entered halftime with a 71-67 lead.
The Nuggets continued their offensive momentum in the third quarter, scoring another 32 points and establishing a 103-93 advantage heading into the final period.
Phoenix attempted to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Denver maintained control and secured the seven-point win.
Jamal Murray Leads Nuggets With 39 Points
Jamal Murray was the standout performer in the Nuggets vs Suns matchup.
The Denver guard finished with 39 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the field and an impressive 7-of-9 from three-point range. He scored 28 points in the second half, helping Denver maintain its advantage.
Christian Braun also played a crucial role, finishing with 31 points. He was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 22 points while shooting 8-of-10 from the field and making all six of his three-point attempts.
Nikola Jokic recorded 18 points and 10 assists, contributing to Denver’s balanced offensive performance. All five Nuggets starters finished with double-digit points.
Denver made 20 three-pointers and shot 52.6% from beyond the arc, making outside shooting a major difference in the game.
Dillon Brooks Ejected After Incident With Jamal Murray
One of the biggest stories from the Suns game involved Dillon Brooks.
The Phoenix forward was ejected in the third quarter after kicking Jamal Murray in the groin during a turnaround jump shot.
Brooks had been one of Phoenix’s best players before the incident. He was leading the Suns with 22 points when he was sent off.
His departure was a significant setback for Phoenix, which lost an important offensive contributor during a competitive game.
The Dillon Brooks ejected incident quickly became one of the main talking points from the matchup, particularly because of his strong shooting performance before leaving the court.
Brooks finished the night with 22 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Suns vs Nuggets: Phoenix’s Best Performers
Despite the defeat, several Phoenix players delivered strong individual performances.
Miles Bridges led the Suns with 24 points, providing an important scoring presence throughout the contest.
Devin Booker scored 20 points on his 30th birthday. The Phoenix star was looking to bounce back after scoring just three points against Oklahoma City in the team’s previous game.
Collin Gillespie contributed 16 points and 10 assists off the bench, helping Phoenix remain competitive offensively.
However, Denver’s three-point shooting and Brooks’ third-quarter ejection made the difference.
Nuggets vs Suns Box Score and Player Stats
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Jamal Murray | Nuggets | 39 |
| Christian Braun | Nuggets | 31 |
| Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 18 |
| Miles Bridges | Suns | 24 |
| Dillon Brooks | Suns | 22 |
| Devin Booker | Suns | 20 |
| Collin Gillespie | Suns | 16 |
Additional Nikola Jokic stats: 10 assists.
Additional Collin Gillespie stats: 10 assists.
NBA Cup: Important Victory for Denver
The Nuggets vs Suns matchup was part of the NBA Cup group stage.
Denver and Phoenix are both competing in West Group A alongside the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.
The NBA Cup gives teams another opportunity to compete for a championship, with players also chasing the tournament’s $500,000 winning-player prize.
For Denver, the victory was particularly important because the team had struggled to establish consistency during the opening stretch of the season.
The Nuggets also extended their winning streak against Phoenix to six games, dating back to Christmas Day in 2024.
For the Suns, the defeat highlighted continuing defensive concerns. Phoenix entered the contest with the NBA’s worst defensive rating at 124.5, according to the pregame report.
What’s Next for the Nuggets and Suns?
Both teams will quickly turn their attention to their next regular-season assignments.
The Denver Nuggets are scheduled to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns will travel to face the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
Phoenix will need to improve defensively and find more consistency from its starting lineup if it wants to recover from the loss.
Final Thoughts
The Nuggets vs Suns game delivered an entertaining NBA Cup contest, with Jamal Murray and Christian Braun leading Denver to a 127-120 victory.
Murray’s 39-point performance and Denver’s outstanding three-point shooting proved decisive. However, Dillon Brooks’ ejection was another major storyline after the Suns forward had scored 22 points before being removed from the game.
Denver leaves Phoenix with consecutive victories and a six-game winning streak over the Suns, while Phoenix must regroup before its upcoming matchup against Golden State.
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