Nuggets @ Suns Tuesday Game Thread, 3-24-2026 ON NBC

[Chaplin]

I said this because there were literally at least three better 3pt shooters on the floor with him, and he never even considered passing the ball to any of them.

Except he did. He passed it to Royce O’Neale. And stop pretending that the shot he took wasn’t a good one, it was—he just missed it.

Putting all of the blame in every single Suns loss on Booker is comical.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Except he did. He passed it to Royce O’Neale. And stop pretending that the shot he took wasn’t a good one, it was—he just missed it.

Putting all of the blame in every single Suns loss on Booker is comical.

Put the blame on Ott. Bad lineups in the second quarter, not playing Man Man more. And the big one no Dillon

 

[Covert Rain]

Book had a good look. Ott didn’t make adjustments quick enough in the first half. The team looked completely lost in the first half anytime Book was doubled.

This team is missing two major pieces with Williams and Brooks. Williams wouldn’t have stopped Joker but I think he could have made him work even more on defense. Williams is quick in transition and that means Joker running more. Brooks could have helped on some of there scorers. Margin of error is too thin with both out.

 

[JosiahLee]

You’re just a bundle of optimism tonight aren’t you?

It helps to embrace the reality of where this team is instead of false optimism.

It was a fun season, but best case scenario at this point is beating the Clippers in the 7th seed vs 8th seed play-in game so we can avoid the Thunder. They would likely sweep the Suns. But I do think they can win a game, maybe two against the Spurs.

 

[leclerc]

If you can sign and flip for some thing you do it. But I agree Suns are going Man Man and Oso

It was great in the first half of the season we had an inside game. We don't have that any longer. Maybe Maluach can implement something. Good to have that option inside-out instead of everyone driving and dishing for threes.

 

[95pro]

Just an awful first half. Our pick and roll defense sucks and is exemplified by Jokic. They let us trade baskets early on, then they made adjustments while we just threw something out there hoping it sticks. Finally ManMan settled things down, then Oso goes in to close the 4th again and stinks up the free throw line. He just makes it so difficult to close out the last 5 minutes of a game.

 

[Chaplin]

It helps to embrace the reality of where this team is instead of false optimism.

It was a fun season, but best case scenario at this point is beating the Clippers in the 7th seed vs 8th seed play-in game so we can avoid the Thunder. They would likely sweep the Suns. But I do think they can win a game, maybe two against the Spurs.

"False optimism". That's pretty rich.

We played a Nuggets team that was pretty much fully healthy (Payton Watson notwithstanding), while we are still missing 2 of our starters, one of which is one of our biggest difference makers. Oh, and we had an OPEN shot to win the freaking game at the end against the #1 offensive team in the league. Again, FULLY HEALTHY.

False optimism? That's crazy. Allowing that there is a chance our team can win such a game isn't "false" optimism. It's real optimism, and we gave ourselves a chance to win it. Book just missed a wide open shot. That's it.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Putting all of the blame in every single Suns loss on Booker is comical.

Feel free to quote me where I have singularly blamed Booker for *any* loss, much less "all" of them. I gently advise that you avoid absolutes when you accuse other people of the same.

That said, if Book wants the hero responsibility at the end of games, he also needs to accept the failed hero callout after. Across the way from where Booker shot the three, one of the other, better 3pt shooters was open.

Sure, it was a good shot, but Book has time and again missed those, and he knows it. He's still hanging on to that one time this season he did make it and got celebrated for it. He wants that "juice" back, and he's gambling (and losing) his team's potential/possible wins chasing that high.

AKA "hero-ball."

 

[Chaplin]

Suns fans are ridiculous.

 

[JosiahLee]

"False optimism". That's pretty rich.

We played a Nuggets team that was pretty much fully healthy (Payton Watson notwithstanding), while we are still missing 2 of our starters, one of which is one of our biggest difference makers. Oh, and we had an OPEN shot to win the freaking game at the end against the #1 offensive team in the league. Again, FULLY HEALTHY.

False optimism? That's crazy. Allowing that there is a chance our team can win such a game isn't "false" optimism. It's real optimism, and we gave ourselves a chance to win it. Book just missed a wide open shot. That's it.

We were "one shot" away is such a woulda, coulda, shoulda argument that's all too familiar this season.

The reality is they are 1-6 in their past seven games, and not ONCE have they won a 4th quarter in that stretch. Their flaws are being exposed and their inability to close games is the worst kind of krypotonite to have as the playoffs approach.

That doesn't mean they haven't had an incredible, overachieving season. Both can be true. And I do hope the return of Brooks and Williams can elevate this team. But expecting the starting rotation to all be healthy is wishful thinking at this point.

How many games have Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, and Grayson Allen played together this season?

 

[Chaplin]

We were "one shot" away is such a woulda, coulda, shoulda argument that's all too familiar this season.

The reality is they are 1-6 in their past seven games, and not ONCE have they won a 4th quarter in that stretch. Their flaws are being exposed and their inability to close games is the worst kind of krypotonite to have as the playoffs approach.

That doesn't mean they haven't had an incredible, overachieving season. Both can be true. And I do hope the return of Brooks and Williams can elevate this team. But expecting the starting rotation to all be healthy is wishful thinking at this point.

How many games have Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, and Grayson Allen played together this season?

Brooks WILL elevate this team, I am 100% convinced of that. Not quite as convinced about Williams, but he is going to be really needed for the playoffs.

 

[Proximo]

Put the blame on Ott. Bad lineups in the second quarter, not playing Man Man more. And the big one no Dillon

Do you really blame him for not playing Man man more?

I will admit he did better than I expected against Jokic, but not enough that I would trust him over Oso at the end.

I do think Dillion was the difference in this game. I do think we win if he played - unless he had one of his bad shooting games.

 

[Proximo]

Brooks WILL elevate this team, I am 100% convinced of that. Not quite as convinced about Williams, but he is going to be really needed for the playoffs.

Still not sure the Book, Green, Brooks lineups are going to work. I sure hope it does, because we are close.

 

[Proximo]

"False optimism". That's pretty rich.

We played a Nuggets team that was pretty much fully healthy (Payton Watson notwithstanding), while we are still missing 2 of our starters, one of which is one of our biggest difference makers. Oh, and we had an OPEN shot to win the freaking game at the end against the #1 offensive team in the league. Again, FULLY HEALTHY.

False optimism? That's crazy. Allowing that there is a chance our team can win such a game isn't "false" optimism. It's real optimism, and we gave ourselves a chance to win it. Book just missed a wide open shot. That's it.

I hear what you are saying, but they have blown 5 out of the last 7 games in the 4th quarter and everyone is very frustrated with it.

 

[Proximo]

I really think just committing to pushing the pace may be all we need to put this team into the win column. Our half court offense and lack of penetration is the biggest thing holding us back.

 

[Chaplin]

I hear what you are saying, but they have blown 5 out of the last 7 games in the 4th quarter and everyone is very frustrated with it.

True, but we had multiple 1st team players out in each of those losses. There are probably other things that are factors (hero ball, coaching), but not having major players available is a big part of it. And that is fair.

To be clear, in yesterday's game, hero ball was not a factor in the loss. In fact, I'd say that the fact that we weren't relying on hero ball gave us the opportunity at the end to win it.

 

[Chaplin]

I really think just committing to pushing the pace may be all we need to put this team into the win column. Our half court offense and lack of penetration is the biggest thing holding us back.

Definitely agree with this.

Oh, and let's not forget how bad the whole team is right now at shooting free throws. Along with Oso not being any kind of offensive threat outside of 8 feet.

 

[Dr dumas]

Brooks WILL elevate this team, I am 100% convinced of that. Not quite as convinced about Williams, but he is going to be really needed for the playoffs.

Brooks will elevate this team as we have seen it previously. The two big questions I have.. can everyone get healthy? If so, can they gel as a team not having played significant minutes together?

 

[Chaplin]

Brooks will elevate this team as we have seen it previously. The two big questions I have.. can everyone get healthy? If so, can they gel as a team not having played significant minutes together?

Definitely a fair question. I'd say there is a good chance that they can, only because even the injured guys appear to be constantly around the team during games and in practices, on the road, etc.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Book had a good look. Ott didn’t make adjustments quick enough in the first half. The team looked completely lost in the first half anytime Book was doubled.

This team is missing two major pieces with Williams and Brooks. Williams wouldn’t have stopped Joker but I think he could have made him work even more on defense. Williams is quick in transition and that means Joker running more. Brooks could have helped on some of there scorers. Margin of error is too thin with both out.

The Williams getting out in transition is a good point. Though jokic isn’t the outta slob he once was, making him run more cat hurt. But truth is, he would still kill us. Maybe not 17 rebounds and 17 kill us, but still kill us. That’s said, we only lost by 2. So maybe one less rebound or assist and we win.

 

[Chaplin]

The Williams getting out in transition is a good point. Though jokic isn’t the outta slob he once was, making him run more cat hurt. But truth is, he would still kill us. Maybe not 17 rebounds and 17 kill us, but still kill us. That’s said, we only lost by 2. So maybe one less rebound or assist and we win.

Not to mention think about all the missed free throws.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Williams getting out in transition is a good point. Though jokic isn’t the outta slob he once was, making him run more cat hurt. But truth is, he would still kill us. Maybe not 17 rebounds and 17 kill us, but still kill us. That’s said, we only lost by 2. So maybe one less rebound or assist and we win.

Yep all you can do is slow him down. Williams I think also gives us sometimes a bunch of easy baskets which might have also been the difference.

 

[JosiahLee]

Brooks WILL elevate this team, I am 100% convinced of that. Not quite as convinced about Williams, but he is going to be really needed for the playoffs.

Yes Mark Williams may not play the best defense but we need all the bigs we can get.