PHOENIX — What a turn of events.

The Phoenix Suns upset the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, giving a strong rebound from what may have been the team’s worst game of the season, a Monday loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Kevin Durant was a key contributor to Phoenix’s victory, scoring 30 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, assisting three times, and blocking five shots.

Nikola Jokic praised him after the win:

“What he’s doing the last – I don’t know how many, 15 years, He’s a great scorer, great shooter, even on the defensive end he had a couple of blocks that disturbed our offense too,” Jokic told reporters after the game.

“… I believe he was receiving the shots that he wanted and could make. He’s an excellent player. Maybe we could try something else, maybe not, but they’re a tremendously good team with a lot of dangers on the court.”

Suns coach Frank Vogel was also delighted with Durant.

“He had five blocks and 30 points, so he certainly bears a weight for us. When he is aggressive like that offensively, I believe it gives our entire team a little more confidence knowing that we are rolling with one of the best to ever do it, that he is going, and that we have a tremendous chance to win no matter who we are against,” he said.

“And to show his devotion as a low man, another element in our film session is that we are dodging defensively as a group. His low-man play was excellent, and he blocked five shots. “Just a fantastic two-way performance.”

According to StatMuse, last night marked the 11th time Durant had five or more blocks in a single game. The Suns gave Denver its third loss since the All-Star break and are now one of only two teams to have won multiple games in Denver this season.

The Suns return to action on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.