Final
Nuggets down Suns, clinch No. 3 seed
Apr 18, 2013 - 5:05 AMVideo
Ty Lawson checked in with 14 points and seven assists for the Nuggets, whose 57-25 record is the third best mark in franchise history and topped all of their previous NBA win totals. They also won their final 23 games at Pepsi Center and finished with an NBA-best 38-3 record at home
Denver will play Golden State in the first round of the playoffs starting Saturday.
"We're confident, but we know in order to win we have to play good basketball," Iguodala said of Denver's playoff chances.
Phoenix, which was led by Luis Scola's 17 points and 11 rebounds, closed out its second worst season (25-57) at the bottom of the West standings.
The Nuggets kept their foot on the gas from the opening tip, as they shot 15- of-24 (63 percent) from the field in the first quarter and jumped out to a 35-20 lead behind 13 points from Chandler.
The margin reached 27 in the final minute of the second quarter, and Iguodala's alley-oop dunk in the closing seconds gave Denver a 66-40 cushion at the intermission.
The closest the Suns got in the second half was 16.
"No one ever wants to end the season like this, but you have to take steps," Suns head coach Lindsey Hunter said.
Game Notes
The Nuggets won 60 games in 1975-76 and 65 in 1974-75 while playing in the ABA ... Denver has won eight of its last nine meetings against the Suns ... Anthony Randolph and Timofey Mozgov both recorded double-doubles off Denver's bench.
- PHOENIX: 98
DENVER: 118
Final
Apr 17 10:13 PM - PHOENIX: 69
DENVER: 91
End of 3rd
Apr 17 9:45 PM - PHOENIX: 40
DENVER: 66
Halftime
Apr 17 9:05 PM - PHOENIX: 20
DENVER: 35
End of 1st
Apr 17 8:35 PM - PHOENIX: 0
DENVER: 0
1st Quarter - 11:59
Apr 17 8:13 PM
Related News
- Nikola Jokic, Purdue, and Caitlin Clark Highlight Sports Illustrated Today Mar 4
- Should we be worried that people with the Phoenix Suns can “feel the frustration with Durant”? Dec 26
- Suns vs. Mavs Final Score: Phoenix continues to struggle, lose 128-114 to Dallas Dec 26
- Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (14-15) vs. Mavs Post Game Podcast Dec 26
- Open Thread: Mavericks vs. Suns Dec 25
- Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown Dec 25
- Stephen’s Study: Scouting Udoka Azubuike’s minutes against the Sacramento Kings Dec 25
- The Beal gamble isn’t paying off Dec 24
- Suns Week 9 Stock Exchange: Udoka gives us hope while coaching and three-point shooting do not Dec 24
- Suns Injury Update: Bradley Beal wants to be ready to go for Christmas Dec 23
- Vogel: “I’m not doing a good enough job in making sure [Eric Gordon]’s involved in the offense” Dec 23
- The Phoenix Suns have gone ice-cold from beyond the arc at a time when they can’t afford to do so Dec 23