Jokic's Late Bucket Lifts Nuggets Over Suns 125-123

Nuggets star records 29th triple-double of season in close victory.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 5:54am

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Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 125-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Jokic made the go-ahead basket with 11.5 seconds left, and the Suns' Devin Booker missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Nuggets in the hunt for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Suns continue to struggle and face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament.

The details

Jokic recorded his NBA-leading 29th triple-double of the season, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and delivering several key passes. The Nuggets led by 10 at halftime, but the Suns fought back to tie the game late before Jokic's late bucket proved to be the difference.

  • Jokic recorded his triple-double by early in the third quarter.
  • The Suns trailed 117-109 with 3:19 left, but rallied to tie the game at 123 with 30.2 seconds remaining.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The three-time NBA MVP had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists to lead the Nuggets to victory.

Devin Booker

The Suns star scored 22 points and dished out 8 assists, but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

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What’s next

The Nuggets will host the Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Suns will host the Jazz on Saturday.

The takeaway

Jokic's late-game heroics kept the Nuggets in the hunt for a top playoff seed, showcasing his MVP-caliber performance and the team's ability to win close games despite injuries throughout the season.