Suns clinch NBA’s best record with win over Nuggets

Before the game was even over the Suns clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoff race when San Antonio lost in Memphis. Phoenix also sealed up the NBA’s best record and will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as a result.

The Suns (62-19) have tied the franchise record for most wins in a season and can break the mark with a win in Wednesday’s regular-season finale in Sacramento.

Shawn Marion added 18 points and nine rebounds and Quentin Richardson notched 16 points for the Suns, who have won five straight and 11 of their last 13 games.

Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 36 points, but the Nuggets were still dealt their second straight loss. Denver fell to 24-4 since the All-Star break with three of those losses coming to the Suns.

Kenyon Martin added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Andre Miller chipped in 17 points and 11 assists for the Nuggets, who will be seeded seventh in the playoffs and face the second-seeded Spurs. The Nuggets will wrap up their regular season with Tuesday’s home contest against Portland.

This was never really a game and Denver’s only lead came when Martin threw down a dunk for the first points of the game. The Suns responded with an 18-6 run and held a 44-25 cushion by the end of the first quarter. Johnson scored 18 points in the opening quarter for Phoenix.

The Suns continued their hot shooting in the second quarter and led by as many as 25 points before halftime. The score stood at 75-57 at the intermission.

Johnson scored 21 points in the opening half for the Suns, who shot 60 percent from the floor in the game’s first 24 minutes. Denver shot 41 percent in the first half, but Anthony led all scorers with 27 points.

The second half was just a formality, as Phoenix coasted to the victory. The Suns led 106-88 after three quarters and eased to the win in the fourth quarter.