Denver @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2019 ) Denver 113, Phoenix 111

The Denver Nuggets look to complete a four-game season sweep of Phoenix when they visit the Suns on Saturday. The first three meetings weren't all easy as the Nuggets won one game by two points and another by one in overtime.

Denver has won 12 of its last 17 games and the squad was exceptionally pleased with Wednesday's 98-95 road win over the Utah Jazz when it had just seven available players. "Who gave us a chance to win this game? Nobody!" Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters while citing it was on the second night of a back-to-back. "It's a testament to the confidence we have, the courage that we have, the resiliency we have." Phoenix is en route to missing the postseason for the 10th straight season but the club broke a four-game losing streak in resounding fashion while clobbering the visiting Houston Rockets 127-91 on Friday. "I don't want to get too high on the hog, but I thought that was a really good effort from our guys," Suns coach Monty Williams told reporters afterward. "There was a sense of urgency from the tip to play with great effort. That was pleasing for me."

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: Altitude, FS Arizona

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (36-16): All-Star center Nikola Jokic had a huge game against Utah as he dominated two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert by recording 31 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists for his 11th triple-double of the season and 39th of his career. "We were believing and we didn't want to let this game go," Jokic told reporters afterward. "We have excuses. We have seven guys, but we wanted to give ourselves a chance and give 100 percent of ourselves." Point guard Jamal Murray scored 31 points against the Jazz and is averaging 25.5 points in two games since returning from a 10-game absence due to an ankle injury.

ABOUT THE SUNS (20-31): Small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. poured in a career-best 39 points against Houston and star shooting guard Devin Booker added 33 in a contest that saw Phoenix set the tone with 46 first-quarter points. Oubre was the subject of trade speculation prior to Thursday's deadline and he came out firing and made 14-of-19 shots, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range to match a career best for makes from behind the arc. "Honestly just attack. We were in attack mode," Oubre said afterward of the game plan. "We didn't want to make it a pickup game like the Rockets usually do. We stuck to our game plan the whole game and attacked the inside of the paint and it worked for us."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets have won four straight meetings and 14 of the past 16.

2. Backup SG Jordan McRae (ankle) isn’t healthy enough to make his team debut after being acquired from the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

3. Phoenix rolled to the easy win over Houston despite committing 23 turnovers.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 113, Suns 103