The Denver Nuggets fell to 0-3 in the preseason after a 118-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Nikola Jokic played 30 minutes, scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. He looked good overall. Michael Porter Jr. also performed well, scoring 21 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from three.

The game’s biggest story, however, was Denver’s poor perimeter defense. The Suns made 23 of 50 three-pointers today, nearly doubling Denver’s total. The Nuggets shot only 12-of-36 from three, emphasizing the team’s mathematical challenges.

“We dominated the glass, the paint, but we got our ass kicked from three,” Michael Malone said after the game. “Giving up 37 points in the third quarter was embarrassing. “We have to be better.”

The Nuggets began what is expected to be their regular starting lineup today, with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Jamal Murray all playing extended minutes. The Suns sat their starters on the other side, and the starting lineup consisted of several former Nuggets.

Monte Morris, Bol Bol, and Mason Plumlee all started and played significant minutes, and the Suns rained three-pointers on the Nuggets. Denver eventually settled in and got things together on defense for a while before the floodgates opened in the third quarter.

Denver’s three-point shooting was still subpar in the first half, going 7-for-21. Still, the threat of the three-pointer was most important in this game. Despite making 21 three-pointers, the Nuggets only shot 16-of-29 in the paint in the first half. There were three total midrange shots, which is an intriguing number for a team that leaned heavily on the midrange last season.

Murray sat during halftime and was replaced by Russell Westbrook. The starters, Westbrook and Strawther, went long in the third quarter, gaining valuable rotation minutes together. The energy level was high, but the execution was not great. Nonetheless, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. found plenty of scoring opportunities, especially with Russell Westbrook setting the tone.

Denver’s defense weakened in the third quarter. Their effort and execution had been excellent in the first half, but several three-pointers and offensive rebounds from Suns reserves disrupted Denver’s defensive rhythm.

Ultimately, the Nuggets played their bench with Braun in place of Westbrook throughout the fourth quarter and struggled to string together stops. Playing Braun and Strawther in the backcourt caused the Nuggets to struggle offensively, but it was a good chance to see Strawther run the point. The Suns chipped away and eventually regained the lead, and while Zeke Nnaji made some impressive plays, it wasn’t to be for Denver. The Suns simply shot too well from outside.