National Basketball Association

Mudiay's 30 points lead Nuggets overs Suns, 116-98

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:05 p.m. ET

foxsports

DENVER (AP) Emmanuel Mudiay scored a career-high 30 points in a matchup of rookie guards, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 116-98 on Thursday night.

Nikola Jokic had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Will Barton had 17 points and eight rebounds for Denver, which has won three straight.

Mudiay hit 13 of 20 shots but didn't outscore Phoenix rookie Devin Booker, who had a career-high 35 in the loss. Booker scored 25 in the second half when the Suns made a run to briefly lead.

Booker continued his strong rookie season by scoring in double figures for the 27th time in the past 30 games. He had 16 in the third quarter when the Suns wiped out a 15-point deficit to take a 70-69 lead on a 3-pointer by Mirza Teletovic.