The short-handed Phoenix Suns didn’t have enough energy or firepower to keep up with the surging Denver Nuggets in Saturday’s 122-105 loss before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Footprint Center. Jamal Murray and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic combined for 56 points in leading the Nuggets (34-19) to a sixth straight win.

The Denver Nuggets got their sixth consecutive win on Saturday and defeated the Phoenix Suns, 122-105. Denver is now 33-19 this season, good for third place in the Western Conference standings. They trail the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies by just 1.5 games.

Nikola Jokic scored 40 points, Christian Braun had 26 points, and the surging Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 146-117 on Monday night for their seventh straight win. Jamal Murray added 17 points and eight assists before picking up his second technical foul and Julian Strawther finished with 18 for Denver.

Jalen Pickett’s methodical and idiosyncratic game has come along nicely in his second season as a reserve point guard for the Nuggets. He has 47 assists and eight turnovers in 254 minutes.

Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, front, pursues a loose ball with Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton in the first half of Monday night's game in Denver. Things are going smoother for Jalen Pickett after a year of embracing the grind.