Hardaway Jr. has been such a crucial part of the Nuggets this year.
The Denver Nuggets needed every bit of what they had on Tuesday night in Phoenix, and Tim Hardaway Jr. delivered once again.
Denver escaped with a 125-123 win over the Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center, and the veteran guard's 18 points off the bench played a big part in keeping the Nuggets afloat in a game that went down to the final seconds.
After the final buzzer, Hardaway Jr. had a simple perspective on what's been driving him and the Nuggets lately.
"Just go out there and have the utmost confidence, because the ball is going to come right back to you whether you like it or not, especially when you least expect it," Hardaway Jr. said. "So, you have to be ready in those moments."
Hardaway Jr. Stays Hot in Phoenix
That mentality has defined Hardaway Jr.'s season, and Tuesday was just the latest example.
He came off the bench and provided the kind of scoring punch that Denver has come to rely on from him, putting up 18 points on a night where the Nuggets needed every bucket.
Denver built a 10-point halftime lead, but Phoenix clawed back behind Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, who each scored 21 points, and the game turned into a back-and-forth battle in the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker tied the game at 123 with 30 seconds remaining, and it looked like the Suns might steal one at home.
But Nikola Jokic, who finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists, knocked down a 12-foot jumper with 11.5 seconds left to seal it.
Booker got a clean look at a potential game-winning three on the other end, but it bounced off the rim.
Why Hardaway Jr. Matters So Much for Denver
Hardaway Jr. signed with Denver on a one-year minimum deal last summer, and the contract has turned into one of the best values in the league.
He is averaging 13.8 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three-point range, both of which are career highs.
His ability to come off the bench and immediately provide scoring and floor spacing has been a game-changer for a team that needed reliable depth behind its stars.
The Nuggets dealt with major injuries for large stretches of the season, and Hardaway Jr. was one of the players who kept them competitive during those tough stretches.
Head coach David Adelman has called him a "green light player" who never loses confidence in his shot, and that belief is a big reason why Denver trusts him in tight games like Tuesday's showdown in Phoenix.
His teammates have noticed, too, with Jamal Murray recently saying that Hardaway Jr. deserves more attention in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation because of what he brings on both ends of the floor.
With the win, Denver improved to 45-28 on the season and has now won six of their last eight games as the team pushes for a higher seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
They sit just 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 3 spot and are looking to avoid a first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Phoenix, meanwhile, dropped to 40-33 and has lost six of its last seven, putting the Suns in danger of falling into the play-in tournament.
Denver heads home to host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Suns will try to stop the bleeding when they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.