PHOENIX: Wilson Chandler’s big game Saturday brought back memories.
“It felt like a throw-back,” Chandler said.
It looked like a throw-down.
Chandler scored 26 points, Will Barton had 25 point and the Denver Nuggets used an extended second-half run to take control in a 123-113 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Nikola Jokic had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Gary Harris had 13 points for the Nuggets, who have won four of five.
The Nuggets used a 36-15 run to take a double-digit lead midway through the fourth quarter, and Chandler hit two 3-pointers from the right corner to nail it down after the Suns closed to 109-103 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.
“Today the ball was finding me,” Chandler said.
Chandler was 11 for 15 from the floor. His previous high this season was 21, and bothered by illness he had only 22 points in the previous four games. He had a career-high 36 against Sacramento last year.
“We don’t win the game without Wilson,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.
“I love it when he is aggressive. Our guys did a great job of finding him, and Wilson did the rest by stepping in and making timely 3s down the stretch.”
TJ Warren had 31 points and Dragan Bender had a career-high 23 for the Suns, who have lost five in a row, 10 of 11 and 13 of 15. One of those wins came in Denver on Jan. 19. Their only other victory in that stretch was against Dallas at home.
Barton scored 11 points during a 21-9 run that gave the Nuggets a 94-89 lead after three quarters, and Denver scored the first five points of the fourth quarter for a 13-point cushion.
Jokic’s 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 109-95 with 6:29 remaining, capping a longer 36-15 run.
Marquese Chriss’ fast-break dunk closed the Suns’ deficit to 109-103 with 4:29 remaining, but Barton hit a 3-pointer and Chandler hit two from the right corner to put away the game.
Elfrid Payton made a strong first impression for the Suns with 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 35 minutes. He was acquired from Orlando at the trade deadline Thursday.
“The pace of play was better,” Suns interim coach Jay Triano said.
“He made the guys on the floor with him better. Getting the ball up and down the floor, getting into the lane when he needed to. I think it will only improve as he understands who can do different things for us.”
Josh Jackson had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
The Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker, Tyson Chandler and Tyler Ulis.
Booker, who is 12th in the league with 24.1 points per game, has missed the last three games with a hip pointer. Chandler was out with a neck injury and Ulis with back spasms.
Phoenix made a much better showing than in the previous game Wednesday, a 129-81 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday that tied the Suns’ worst ever. They set the record against Portland on opening night this season.
Denver Nuggets use big second-half run to beat Phoenix Suns 123-113
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