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

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

Mar. 25, 2026 at 10:54am

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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. The Nuggets overcame a late Suns rally to win their sixth game in the last eight.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Nuggets in the hunt for a top-3 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. The Nuggets led by 10 at halftime but the Suns rallied in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 2 heading into the fourth. Denver held on late, with Jokic hitting the game-winning jumper in the final seconds.

  • Jokic recorded his triple-double by early in the third quarter.
  • The Nuggets led by 10 at halftime.
  • The Suns cut the deficit to 97-95 heading into the fourth quarter.

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

Grayson Allen

The Suns guard scored 21 points off the bench, including a key 3-pointer late in the third quarter to help Phoenix rally.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets guard scored 21 points as Denver's second-leading scorer.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Nuggets guard added 18 points off the bench to provide a scoring boost.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

The takeaway

This close victory for the Nuggets keeps them in the hunt for a top playoff seed in the West, while the Suns' struggles continue as they try to avoid the play-in tournament.