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The Phoenix Suns usually rely on their first team to provide the bulk of their points in their games, usually to great success. Apparently, there was a change of plans Monday night when the Denver Nuggets came to US Airways Center.

While the starters got their points, it took the bench to provide a spark for the Suns as they scored 24 of the 33 points in the second quarter, helping Phoenix rally and throttle Denver 101-85.

The Nuggets were held scoreless for 5:23 after taking a 37-24 lead and shot 5-of-16 from the floor while committing nine turnovers. Channing Frye scroed seven points in the second quarter and Louis Amundson added five points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots during the period as the Suns outscored the Nuggets 33-11 in the frame to turn a 13-point deficit to a 57-44 halftime lead.

Phoenix’s starters picked up where the reserves left off. After Chauncey Billups’ 3-pointer pulled Denver to within ten points 35 seconds into the third quarter, the Suns outscored the Nuggets 14-2 over the next 2:35 to open a 73-51 lead, their largest of the night; Phoenix would lead by no fewer than 11 the rest of the game.

Balanced scoring was the rule as six Suns players scored in double-digits, led by Grant Hill and Amare Stoudemire with 19 points each – with Hill grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists along with 2 steals while Stoudemire grabbed 10 boards, dished out an assist, along with 2 steals; Frye came off the bench to score 16 with 5 rebounds, an assist and a block.

Billups led the Nuggets with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Carmelo Anthony added 17 with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; J.R. Smith chipped in 16 (including 4 treys) with 3 rebounds and an assist.

Phoenix (38-24) plays again on Wednesday when they journey to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers while Denver (39-21) returns home for a 3-game home stand when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder – also on Wednesday night.