Phoenix led after one quarter, lost the next two by a combined 15 and never got all the way back. A bench guard ran the offense best, and the team that holds 10th place is next.
The answer off the bench. Gillespie was the best Sun on the floor: 16 points, 10 assists, four steals, 4-of-8 from deep and two turnovers in 34 minutes. His +8 led the team. All week the question has been who runs this offense, and on this night it was the reserve. Grade: A.
Where it slipped. Phoenix took a 37-32 lead after one quarter and was up 54-51 midway through the second. Then Denver scored eight straight and won the quarter 39-30 to lead 71-67 at the half. The third went 32-26 to the Nuggets, and Phoenix started the fourth down 103-93.
The push that fell short. An 8-0 run that started late in the third cut it to 103-98, and Denver answered right away to go up 108-98. Jamal Murray scored 13 in the fourth. Down 123-110 with 1:17 left, Phoenix ran off seven straight, and Jordan Goodwin's step-back three made it 125-120 with nine seconds left.
Bridges carried the frontcourt. Miles Bridges finished with 24 and 10 on 10-of-19 shooting, three blocks and zero turnovers in 37 minutes, with seven points in the fourth. His 2-of-7 from three kept it from being a complete night, but a -1 in a seven-point loss says enough. Grade: A-minus.
Booker's heavy minutes. Devin Booker played 39 minutes for 20 points on 7-of-19, five assists and four turnovers, finishing -14. He had seven in the fourth, but the star on the floor who decided the night wore the other jersey. Grade: C.
Brooks, Kennard and the big man. ESPN reported Dillon Brooks was ejected after a flagrant 2 in the third quarter. He left with 22 points on 9-of-12 in 21 minutes and a -14. Luke Kennard went +7 in 12 minutes. Khaman Maluach was -15 in 17 minutes and sat as Oso Ighodaro, cleared before tipoff, closed.
What it costs. At 1-3 with two straight losses, Phoenix sits 11th, two games behind Dallas for sixth and one behind Golden State for 10th. That's a 21-61 pace with 78 games left. The next game is in San Francisco against the Warriors, the team holding the play-in spot Phoenix wants.
Why was Dillon Brooks ejected in the Suns' loss to the Nuggets?
ESPN reported Brooks was ejected after a flagrant foul 2 in the third quarter. He had 22 points in 21 minutes before he left.
Who played best for the Suns against Denver?
Collin Gillespie had 16 points, 10 assists, four steals and a team-best +8 off the bench. Miles Bridges led the team in scoring with 24 points and added 10 rebounds.
