Nuggets 122, Suns 97
Arron Afflalo led the way with 22 points and Ty Lawson added 11 points and 10 assists as Denver coasted past visiting Phoenix.
Timofey Mozgov scored 13 points and J.J. Hickson collected 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench as the Nuggets earned a split of the home-and-home set with the Suns and moved back to .500 at 8-8. Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari each scored 11 points and combined for 24 rebounds for Denver.
Eric Bledsoe was the only starter to reach double figures with 16 points for Phoenix, which fell for the second time in seven games. Gerald Green had 12 points and rookie T.J. Warren scored a season-high 11 to lead the reserves.
Gary Harris’ 3-pointer capped a 15-4 run and left the Nuggets with a 14-point lead late in the first quarter, and Kenneth Faried’s free throws pushed the advantage to 52-32 just past the midway point of the second quarter. Denver carried a 66-47 lead into the break as the Suns struggled to 37.5 percent from the field.
Afflalo buried a 3-pointer and three straight free throws to extend the lead to 88-59 with 5:35 left in the third quarter. The advantage reached 31 points late in the third and the Nuggets cruised through the fourth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Suns G Isaiah Thomas (bruised ankle) missed his second straight game. … The Nuggets dominated the glass 58-34 and outscored Phoenix in the paint 44-32. … Denver has won six of its last seven games.