Palm Springs, CA -- (Sports Network) - J.R. Smith and Mateen Cleaves each scored 12 points to guide Denver to a 77-72 win over Phoenix in a landmark NBA preseason game at the 16,000-seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

It marked the first NBA outdoor game since the Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks in a preseason contest on Sept. 24, 1972, at a baseball stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nene had 10 points for Denver, which played without stars Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony due to nagging injuries.

Steve Nash scored 16 and Boris Diaw pulled down 10 rebounds for the Suns, who shot 31.6 percent from the field under the lights. Amare Stoudemire didn't play for Phoenix because of an eye injury.

The teams combined to go 3-of-27 from three-point distance.