Nene scored 22 points, and Ty Lawson had 20 points and 11 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to an easy 116-97 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Wilson Chandler added 16 points as Denver (38-27) won for the sixth time in eight games.

Marcin Gortat had 14 points and matched a season-high with 18 rebounds for Phoenix (33-30), which fell 1 1/2 games behind Memphis for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Nene made 9-of-12 field-goal attempts and had seven rebounds for Denver, which expanded a 10-point halftime lead into a 24-point bulge at the end of three quarters.

The Nuggets led 39-36 midway through the second quarter before an 11-2 run capped by J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer gave them a 12-point advantage with 3:50 left in the half.

Jared Dudley added 13 points for the Suns.

Smith and Chris Andersen scored 12 points apiece for Denver, which had 15 steals, including four by Lawson and three from Nene.

Steve Nash (seven points) and Vince Carter (six) combined for only 13 points. Nash had seven assists and committed six of Phoenix’s 18 turnovers.

Denver was without guard Arron Afflalo (hamstring) and forward Danilo Gallinari (toe).