Paul makes 7 threes, Suns beat Nuggets for seventh straight win

PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul made a career-highseven 3-pointers and the Phoenix Suns won their season-best seventhgame in a row, holding off the short-handed Denver Nuggets 119-115on Thursday night.

Kevin Durant added six 3s and led the Suns with 29 points, whilePaul scored 25. Durant also had seven rebounds.

Devin Booker made just 3 of 12 shots, but still scored 15 as hewas 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Booker also had eightassists, while Deandre Ayton scored 16 points and reserve TorreyCraig had 11.

Paul’s 3-pointer with 3:07 to play made it 114-107, the biggestlead of the night for either team at that point.

Bruce Brown led Denver (52-28), playing without all fivestarters, with 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Reggie Jackson had20 points and six assists, while DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and11 rebounds.

Nikola Jokic had missed three games with a calf injury beforereturning to play 25 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to Houston. He wassidelined again Thursday, as were Aaron Gordon (right shoulder),Michael Porter Jr. (left heel), Jamal Murray (right thumb) andKentavious Caldwell-Pope (illness).

The Suns trailed by six at one point in the third quarter, butcame back to lead 89-86 entering the fourth.

Phoenix led 56-55 at the break. Durant led the Suns with 11points. Denver shot 52% to Phoenix’s 46% in the half.

MANAGING THE WORKLOAD

The Nuggets clinched the No. 1 seed in the West on Wednesdaywhen Memphis lost to New Orleans. They’re also dealing with enoughinjuries that the entire starting five was out Thursday.

Two-time MVP Jokic is averaging 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and9.8 assists.

“We’re just trying to be smart about managing those injuries aswe move forward,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before thegame. “Speaking to the players individually and speaking to ourtraining staff, having played 79-80 games to this point, those guyshave been dealing with these injuries for a while. We want to besmart about what kind of positions we put them in.”

The Suns also are locked in to the No. 4 seed, but with Duranthaving so few games with his new Suns teammates, coach MontyWilliams is trying to strike a balance with what’s best foreveryone entering the postseason.

“I think we have to try to use these games to get guys to aplace that we think is comfortable for them,” Williams said. “Theconditioning part is something that you have to think about, butI’ve always felt like when you have a week off, it’s hard to keepNBA conditioning and all of that stuff, edge, emotions of game dayin place throughout the week. We’re just concerned about where weare and try to get guys to a certain capacity.

“Our team is coming up with all kinds of scenarios to allow forus to make good decisions. I want to win every game, but I’m alsoof the mindset that I want to do what’s best for the guys and bestfor the team.”

NOTES

The Suns were without G T.J. Warren (illness). ... Thursday’scrowd of 17,071 at the Footprint Center was the 66th sellout in arow with one regular-season home game remaining. ... Phoenix wonthree of the four games between the teams this season.

NEXT

Nuggets: At Utah Saturday.

Suns: At Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.