PHOENIX — When Marcus Banks sank his seventh 3-pointer of the night — yes, Marcus Banks — it was the 20th 3-pointer by the Phoenix Suns in Monday night’s game.
The Suns’ 20 3-pointers — the second-most in NBA history and the most ever allowed by the Nuggets — fueled their 137-115 rout of Denver.
It was that kind of night for the Nuggets, who seemed to move slowly even in pregame handshakes.
Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Nuggets allowed Phoenix to shoot 69 percent and score 46 points during the first quarter. By halftime, Phoenix had 11 3-pointers and 78 points, the most allowed by Denver in a first half since 1996. After just three quarters, Phoenix led 106-90. The Suns (24-10) average an NBA-best 109.3 points per game.
“I’m pretty sure it surprised everybody that they were making shots like that,” said Denver guard Allen Iverson, who scored a game-high 32 points. “When we missed shots, they took total advantage pushing it downcourt, and we were caught in a lot of cross matchups.”
In a meeting of first-place teams, the leaders of the Pacific Division blew out the leaders of the Northwest. The loss pushed the Nuggets (21-13) into a first-place tie with idle Portland.
After three quarters, the Suns led by 16 points. But they still shot 11 more 3-point attempts in the final quarter, making seven.
“They got happy, they got cocky and they rubbed our face in the game a little bit,” Denver coach George Karl said. “It will be fun the next time we play them. . . . I think players should play hard, but I’m not sure they should flaunt the 3-ball.”
Banks finished with 23 points. Shawn Marion made five 3-pointers, all in the first half, and led Phoenix in points (27), rebounds (14) and blocked shots (six).
By halftime, Marion already had 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including two straight 3-pointers in the second quarter, the second giving Phoenix a 70-47 lead with 3:06 left in the first half.
Karl said Denver’s game plan was to smother Phoenix’s post players, which could give outside shooters some extra space. The plan backfired while Marion continued to fire, and Karl was forced to switch the defensive scheme with five minutes left in the second quarter and Phoenix already ahead by 17 points.
Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points, nearly five below his season average, but he did lead Denver with 14 rebounds — seven on the offensive glass. But he couldn’t get into an Anthony-like flow.
“I wasn’t getting any calls once again tonight,” he said. “And tonight was really brutal out there for me. I know I don’t really talk about it that much, I don’t like to make excuses, but tonight was an exception.”
The postgame frustration was contagious. As Iverson walked off the court, the feisty Denver captain looked over at the Suns, who were high-fiving like they had just hit another 3-pointer.
Screamed Iverson: “We’ll see all y’all (expletive) again!”
Look from long range
In their previous three games, all wins, the Nuggets contained the 3-point shot. That wasn’t the case Monday night against the Suns:
(Date, Team, 3-pointers, Pct.)
Jan. 3 Spurs 6-for-17 35.3
Jan. 4 T-wolves 7-for-22 31.8
Jan. 6 76ers 4-for-10 40.0
Monday Suns 20-for-31 64.5
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Chucky Atkins, who has slowly progressed since returning from a groin injury, did not play Monday night, thinning an already thin Nuggets bench. And after two games with 11 or more assists, Anthony Carter had five against the Suns. But he didn’t turn the ball over once.
Final thought
This could have been a statement game for the Nuggets, but they were sluggish against a fast team that was playing after an embarrassing home loss. You can’t ease your way into a game against an opponent like the Suns, and the Nuggets dug too deep of a hole in the first quarter.
Up next
vs. Orlando, 7 p.m. Friday
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
