Suns Fall to Nuggets in Preseason Home Opener

The Phoenix Suns played host to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night - here's how it panned out.

PHOENIX -- In front of a sellout crowd at the Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns fell to the Denver Nuggets in 115-107 fashion in their preseason home opener on Tuesday:

Suns Starters

Josh Okogie
Chimezie Metu
Jusuf Nurkic
Grayson Allen
Saben Lee

Nuggets Starters

Justin Holiday
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokic
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Jamal Murray

Phoenix's star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal didn't play tonight. Suns head coach Frank Vogel explained why:

“We’re going to make these decisions on a game-by-game basis, but I always felt that we’re not going to play them all five preseason games. We’re going to pace them throughout the preseason and this one, coming off of the east coast trip, three-hour time zone change, afternoon game, sleep is a little bit compromised right now. I just wanted them to have a few days to get recovered from that trip before throwing them right back out there.”

First Quarter

The Suns found themselves down 13-12 after first timeout, where Allen was the only starter to not score in the first five minutes of action. 

With 3:55 left, Yuta Watanabe and Drew Eubanks checked in for the Suns. Soon after, Keita Bates-Diop and Eric Gordon came in to help Phoenix reach a 21-20 lead just over a minute later.

Back-to-back triples for @wacchi1013 and @TheofficialEG10 🪣 pic.twitter.com/T7kgLW9AZH

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 11, 2023

However, Denver would push through and hold a 25-23 lead at the end of the first period. The Nuggets shot 10-50 (50%) from three-point land. 

Okogie led the Suns with six points and three rebounds. 

Second Quarter

With Jokic and Murray back on the court, Denver scored a quick eleven points and forced a timeout from Suns head coach Frank Vogel. Gordon tallied all six points scored by the Suns to open the second quarter of action

Allen caught fire after the first and scored seven points to help tie the action at 38.

Grayson showing off the touch and deep shot ☄️ pic.twitter.com/AcKIcMmxw6

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 11, 2023

Denver - with most of their starters - again pulled away towards the end of the quarter to lead 55-48 at half. Phoenix's shooting fell off by finishing at a 38% rate from the field. Nurkic was the only Suns scorer in double digits with ten points and four rebounds. 

Third Quarter

Bol Bol checked into the game for the first time and received quite the response from Suns fans, as a monster applause awaited the free agent signing. 

Other than that, it was a rather lackluster third quarter from both sides. The Nuggets carried a 87-77 heading into the final quarter of play.

The Suns again made an effort to hit the free throw line, as they shot 24 free thows to Denver's nine through three quarters. 

Fourth Quarter

The Suns were able to cut Denver's lead in half during the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing the Nuggets to take a quick timeout. Bol scored four of the seven points from Phoenix in their initial run. 

Going up to get it. pic.twitter.com/BUBvVr0N70

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 11, 2023

However, Denver's cast of second-teamers proved to be too much for Phoenix down the stretch, as the Suns scored just one field goal attempt in the final two minutes of play. 

Okogie finished with 17 points, good enough to lead Phoenix on the night. Four of their five starters finished with 10 points or more.