The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns are developing quite the little rivalry. The contempt for one another appeared to boil over Thursday night, as Nuggets forward Jeff Green attempted to break into the Suns locker room after the game. Nuggets players and staffers reportedly had to hold him back before he got inside the visiting locker room.

The animosity from Green supposedly came from a play earlier during the game. While in transition, Suns point guard Chris Paul appeared to stop in front of Green, causing the two to collide. Clearly, Green took that as a cheap shot.

The Suns swept the Nuggets during the 2021 playoffs and just won the third and final meeting this season, taking the season series, 2-1. Afterwards, Nuggets coach Michael Malone spoke of the confrontation as well as the growing rivalry, captured by Mile High Sports' TJ McBride.

“A lot of words are being spoken and some people take offense to what is being said and; obviously, they swept us last year in the playoffs… I think there is definitely some animosity, but that is what this time of year should be about… This time of year, it should be every possession matters, every quarter matters, every game matters, and with that comes physicality, aggression and some people may not like that or be comfortable with that.”

With the loss, the Nuggets fell to 43-31. They are one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It is crucial they maintain their positioning, as Denver is currently the first seed above the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Suns got Chris Paul back from injury and continue cruising toward the postseason.