What we learned from Phoenix Suns loss to defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets minus Devin Booker

Kevin Durant went from passing Moses Malone for 10^th all-time on the NBA scoring list to being unable to make a shot from the field in the second half Friday night.

Durant shot 0-for-10 after the break as the Phoenix Suns, minus Devin Booker (ankle) and Bradley Beal (back), came up short, 119-111, against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Footprint Center.

Durant finished with 30 points against the Nuggets after scoring 22 on 8-of-15 shooting in the first half to pass Malone.

Needing 17 points to overtake the late, great big man, Durant now has 27,423 career points, has played the fewest games of anyone in the top 10 at 1,003, but went ice cold in the second half.

The Suns (11-8) received a season-high 31 points from Jusuf Nurkic as he got the better of his matchup against two-time MVP, former teammate and friend, Nikola Jokic, but fouled out with 45 seconds left in the game.

The call was reviewed and ruled a flagrant one, that led to Denver getting two free throws and the ball. Jokic split the two free throws, then split the defense for a layup to give the Nuggets a 117-111 advantage with 24.1 seconds left.

Jokic ended the night with 21 points, 16 assists and five rebounds while Reggie Jackson added 20 to lead the Nuggets (14-6), who eliminated the Suns from last season’s playoffs with a 25-point win in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals in Phoenix.

This was Denver’s only trip to Phoenix this season. Here's what we learned in Friday's game, as the Suns played the second of a back-to-back Saturday night against the Grizzlies (5-13) at Footprint Center, with Booker listed as questionable on Saturday.

JavaScript is not available.

Nurkic can put up numbers, too

Nurkic said he has some “secret stuff” when it comes to playing against Jokic, but the formula seems rather simple.

Be aggressive. Look to match Jokic’s effort. Be physical.

Nurkic excelled in all those areas in this matchup, but that also led to him picking up fouls and ultimately fouling out.

As much as the sixth foul drew the ire of the fans, it’s the fifth one in which he was defending Jokic that was more costly because it put him in more foul, it’s a wrap.

Nurkic picked up that foul with Phoenix down one with 3:28 left in the game.

What Nurkic showed in this game is that he can be a second option with, say, Booker, Durant or Beal and look to score. Now certain guys are more athletic, but Nurkic has the bulk advantage.

He’ll get called for offensive fouls, but he’ll also score inside, too.

Nurkic is a give-and-take guy. He’ll make plays, he’ll give up baskets.

He’ll foul, he’ll get fouled, but what Nurkic did Friday is show a side of his game that has Durant saying afterward the Suns need him to stay in this zone.

Durant’s 0-for-10

Durant believes he’s never out of rhythm, got favorable looks and doesn’t want to put the game in the referee’s hands.

So how does one explain the 0-for-10 effort?

Some of the shots rimmed in and out. Sometimes the Nuggets did played solid defense and sometimes, he was fouled.

However, he’s scored more than a handful of baskets getting fouled and playing through contact.

That’s why it’s shocking to see him continue to misfire, especially when the Suns were right there to get closer or take the lead on those occasions in the second half.

Will revisit this later.

Now he did attempt 13 free throws, making them all, had 11 assists while Denver went 7-of-12 as a team from the line, and still finished with 30 points, but this is coming after going 11-of-30 Wednesday against Toronto.

This may be the early stages of a shooting slump or just one of those nights.

We’ll find out soon enough if he has to carry the offense Saturday.

Just one, or two, to go

Durant said he'll look to be better, but if he makes one, maybe two of these in the second half, perhaps the Suns pull this one out.

Down 2 with 1:31 left in third quarter: Missed jumper.

Down 2 with 1:25 left in third quarter: Missed 3.

Down 2 with 49.7 seconds in third: Missed jumper.

Down 3 with zero seconds in third: Missed 3.

Down 2 with 7:25 left in fourth: Missed short jumper.

Down 3 with 6:15 left in the fourth: Missed jumper.

Down 3 with 4:45 left in fourth: Jumper blocked.

Down 3 with 2:47 left in fourth: Missed deep two.

Down 3 with 1:11 left in fourth. Missed jumper.

Like last season's playoffs, Denver tried to guard Durant without help, starting with Aaron Gordon.

With Gordon out, as well as Jamal Murray, the Nuggets trapped Durant up top, but also played him straight up even without Booker.

The Nuggets will probably stick with that strategy moving forward, but that's a risk when facing Durant.

Giving up the paint, the 3 in first half

Can’t yield both in the game

Especially when the other team is without two of its best players in Murray (ankle) and Gordon (heel).

The Nuggets ravaged Phoenix’s interior with 36 paint points in the first half that fueled them shooting 80.8% from the field at one point in the first half.

Dribble drive layups. Too easy.

The Suns may have been able to overcome that, but they also allowed Denver to shoot 8-of-16 from 3 in the first half.

Wide freaking open. In rhythm, too.

The Suns have had issues defending the paint and the 3, but they have shown recent improvement.

Took a backstep in the first half Friday night that probably cost them the game.

Nuggets have found the championship formula

Here’s why Denver is favored by many to repeat and be a championship contender.

Hold on. Let’s back up.

There are several reasons starting with Jokic and trickling down to complementary pieces like Murray, Gordon, Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

That dude, Caldwell-Pope, is in the perfect situation.

Defend. Hit open catch-and-shoot 3s and have driving options.

Michael Malone is a great coach, too, but they are developing young talent that can serve as key backup now and future starters later.

Christian Braun. Peyton Watson. Julian Strawther.

They’re late first rounders who showed up big-time with Gordon and Murray still out.

Need someone to guard Durant? Watson took on the challenge and blocked his shot to preserve a 107-104 lead with 4:45 left in the game.

Need winning plays? Braun already proved his worth in last season’s playoffs.

Need a 3? Strawther hit three of them in scoring 11 points with the last one giving Denver a 91-85 lead with 2:52 left in the third quarter.

They’ve most built this team mostly through the draft. Remember, Jokic was a second-round pick.

The Nuggets keep their core healthy and intact, they’ll be able to have guys like Braun, Watson and Strawther provide quality depth to keep winning championships.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant Durant goes cold from field in 2nd half of Suns loss to Nuggets