Murray Scores 39 and Braun Adds a Career-High 31 as Nuggets Beat Suns 127-120 in NBA Cup

Jamal Murray scored 39 points and Christian Braun scored a career-high 31 as the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 127-120 in NBA Cup group play on Friday night, October 30, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Denver led 71-67 at halftime and 103-93 after three quarters, then held off Phoenix in the fourth to finish its two-game road trip with a win.

Murray and Braun carry the Denver offense

Murray made 10 of 18 shots, 7 of 9 from three-point range and 12 of 15 from the free-throw line in 37 minutes. He added 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Braun made 11 of 16 shots and 7 of 9 from deep in 37 minutes. He scored 22 points in the first half without missing a three-pointer on six attempts, and he finished one point past his previous career high of 30, set on April 6, 2025, against the Indiana Pacers.

Denver shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and made 13 of 20 three-pointers. Phoenix nearly kept pace, shooting 57 percent and making 12 of 23 from deep before halftime. Nikola Jokic finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists for Denver. Aaron Gordon scored 15 points, and Cameron Johnson scored 12 points with 10 rebounds.

Brooks ejected in the third quarter

Phoenix forward Dillon Brooks was ejected with 8:05 left in the third quarter. Brooks attempted a turnaround jumper with Murray guarding him, fell backward and kicked his right leg forward into Murray. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Lead official Tyler Ford announced that Brooks had overtly kicked out his leg, and the incident will be reported to the league office, with Brooks facing a fine of at least 2,000 dollars.

Brooks was leading the Suns at the time. He scored a season-high 22 points in 20 minutes on 9 of 12 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three-point range, before he left the game.

Phoenix stays close but cannot close the gap

Miles Bridges led Phoenix with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Devin Booker scored 20 points in 39 minutes on his 30th birthday, and Collin Gillespie added 16 points and 10 assists off the bench. Phoenix won the fourth quarter 27-24 and won the first quarter 37-32, but Denver took the second quarter 39-30 and the third 32-26, and that middle stretch decided the game.

For the night, Denver shot 51.9 percent from the field, making 42 of 81 shots, and 52.6 percent from three-point range, making 20 of 38. Phoenix shot 48.9 percent, making 46 of 94 shots, and 42.9 percent from deep, making 18 of 42. Denver outrebounded Phoenix 49 to 46.

Phoenix entered the game with a 1-2 record after a 125-114 loss at Oklahoma City on Monday. Denver entered at 2-2 after a 104-91 win at New Orleans on October 28 opened the road trip. The win moves Denver to 3-2 and drops Phoenix to 1-3. Phoenix started Booker, Jalen Green, Brooks, Bridges and Khaman Maluach for coach Jordan Ott. Denver started Murray, Braun, Johnson, Gordon and Jokic for coach David Adelman.